In a commanding display, Bayer Leverkusen secured a crucial 2-0 first-leg triumph against Roma in the Europa League semifinal, firmly asserting their dominance in the tie.
Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich were the heroes for the Bundesliga champions, as their goals propelled Leverkusen to only their second victory in Italy. The match saw Roma struggle to make an impact, managing just two shots on target, with star striker Romelu Lukaku left isolated before his substitution in the 80th minute.
Leverkusen capitalized on a moment of defensive vulnerability to break the deadlock, with full-back Alex Grimaldo setting up Wirtz for his 18th goal of the season. Despite Roma’s attempts to respond, Leverkusen held firm, denying the hosts an equalizer before the interval.
In the second half, Leverkusen further solidified their lead as Andrich found the net with a sublime long-range strike, extending their unbeaten run to an impressive 47 matches across all competitions.
Meanwhile, the semifinal clash between Marseille and Atalanta ended in a 1-1 draw at Stade Velodrome. Gianluca Scamacca gave Atalanta an early lead, but Marseille fought back with a spectacular long-range effort from Chancel Mbemba to level the score.