AS Rome – Bayer Leverkusen
1-0
AS Roma took the lead over Bayer Leverkusen (1-0) on the road to the Europa League final thanks to the club’s first European goal by a child yellow Red, Edoardo Bove, in the semi-finals go to the Olimpico. At the end of a tight first leg, everything remains very open for the return to Germany between two teams who are betting on a victory in C3 to win qualification for the next Champions League, qualification which promises to be complicated via their respective championship.
For cup specialist José Mourinho, seeking a second consecutive continental victory after success in the Europa League Conference last season, the light came from young midfielder Bove, 20. The native of Rome, trained in the Giallorossiunblocked the situation in two stages, first accelerating full axis to serve Tammy Abraham then victoriously taking the ball pushed back on the shot from the English striker (63rd).
Roma suffered
José Mourinho then padlocked to keep this short but precious advantage, giving a lesson in efficiency to his ex-Real Madrid player, Xabi Alonso, today on the bench at Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans had yet failed to turn off the choirs of the Olimpico. But the Roman goalkeeper Rui Patricio fell well on the shot from Robert Andrich (1re) and Florian Wirtz crossed his shot too much (7e).
Roma had only been dangerous in the first half on a header from Roger Ibanez who forced German goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky into a fine save (19e). More biting after the break, the Wolf logically opened the scoring but just as logically then retreated to manage, despite the entry into play of Paulo Dybala, still disturbed by an ankle.
Bayer was not far from taking advantage of it with a last burning action where Rui Patricio released a ball at the feet of Jérémie Frimpong, but Bryan Cristante replaced his goalkeeper just in front of the line (87e). Bayer, beaten for the second consecutive time after their defeat in the league on Friday which had ended a series of invincibility of 14 defeats, has a week to regain its solidity.
Juventus – Sevilla FC
1-1
Dominated by Sevilla FC, who held their feat on Thursday in Turin, Juventus snatched the 1-1 draw after added time in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final. Faced with the record holder of Europa League titles (six in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020), the Juve is doing well. She waited for the very last action to equalize, thanks to a header from defender Federico Gatti after several corner kicks (1-1, 90e+7).
The Turinese, undefeated in the Europa League since their elimination from the Champions League, can still dream of a final. And it is well paid, as Sevilla was superior, like the goal of Youssef En-Nesyri while in control (1-0, 26e).
An assist from Paul Pogba
Even if Juve had their share of chances, by Kostic (12th) or Vlahovic (18th, 19th), it was the Andalusians who were the sharpest from the start, especially with Lucas Ocampos, author of two headers on target ( 14th, 17th) and a dangerous off-target shot (25th).
It was in the 26th minute that Sevilla found the solution: well launched in depth on the right side, Ocampos fixed before serving back in the box En-Nesyri, who took Wojciech Szczeny against the foot of a razing shot.
It is perhaps the entry twenty minutes from the end of Paul Pogba which was the most beneficial for Juve: on the corner of the last chance, shot by Chiesa, deflected for the first time, it is the champion of the French world who stored his head towards Gatti for the equalizer. Everything remains to be done next week in Andalusia.
