Xabi Alonso and his Leverkusen took last year’s revenge and reach the final in a historic season
He Bayer Leverkusen beat with authority this Thursday the Roma (0-2) at the Olympic Stadium in the Italian capital, in a duel marked by a defensive error by Karsdop that facilitated the advantage of a Xabi Alonso which marks the final in Dublin with this result.
The ‘Neverloser’, the nickname that the aspirin team has received lately, did not need to wait for the final minutes this time to maintain its undefeated status. He knew how to endure when it was his turn and took advantage of his superiority to take revenge for what happened last season, when they were eliminated against Roma in the same round, and secure a result that puts him within a foot and a half of the final.
Florian Wirtz celebrates with Bayer Leverkusen against Roma Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
There are now 47 consecutive games without losing for this historic team, champion of the Bundesliga. Yes, to the almighty Leverkusen It was difficult for him to get into the game.
Intimidated by a Roma well planted, with success in high pressure, those of Xabi Alonso They barely disturbed Svilar’s door in the first half hour. Only a shot by Frimpong into the side of the net, after a mistake by Spinazzola in coverage, scared the locals.
Because the Romadespite being clearly the least favorite to pass the tie, knew how to contain the German champion in the early stages. Lukaku He crashed a header into the woodwork in the clearest of De Rossi’s men, threatening in the three-quarter zone.
All a job that went to hell after Karsdop’s glaring mistake in defense in the 28th minute. The Dutch full-back gave the ball to Grimaldo in the own area trying to give it up to Svilar and Wirtz, alone against the Serbian goal, opened the scoring to pleasure after the assistance of the Spanish.
There he woke up Leverkusen, who went on to dominate the rest of the first half with authority. Alonso breathed on the bench, especially active with protests to the French referee, because he began to recognize his team, because he began to circulate with judgment and because his team began to be the ones in the dangerous situations.
Frimpong had it again when he misled an outmatched Spinazzola, adding another play in which the Roma full-backs were protagonists due to the low level in the match. But he got the Roma They relaxed with a long shot from Pellegrini that put De Rossi’s team back in the game just before the break.
Momentum that was maintained at the beginning of the second half and that almost materialized into a goal with a header from Cristante from a corner kick. A mirage because the game was, from the goal, Leverkusen. The Germans gave up possession but received no damage. He Roma was sterile with a balloon when Paulo Dybala missing.
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And between comings and goings without any kind of significance between one another, ineffective transitions and unforced errors, Andrich decided that enough was enough. He received it on the edge of the area and put it in the square. Unstoppable for Svilar.
He could not react Roma before the hit conceded and saw how the dream of achieving the third European final in a row, the second consecutive in this competition, practically disappeared with Abraham’s shot under the sticks and without a goalkeeper that inexplicably the Englishman failed to put between the 3 posts.
Xabi Alonso and his Leverkusen They took revenge from last year and reached the final in a historic season.