AS Roma 1-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Edoardo Bove strikes to give Jose Mourinho’s side slender advantage ahead of second leg

AS Roma’s young midfielder Edoardo Bove was the matchwinner for his boyhood club as Jose Mourinho’s side defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to take a slender advantage into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.

There was added spice going into the game, as Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso took his place in the dugout alongside his former manager Mourinho, who he played under for three seasons at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013.

Despite the build-up, the first half lacked the goalmouth action that the buoyant Olimpico crowd craved, as both sides were only able to register a solitary shot on target each.

That effort on goal from Roma in the 17th minute was the closest that either team came to opening the scoring in the first period. Roger Ibanez’s powerful header from Leonardo Spinazzola’s free-kick was tipped away by a diving Lukas Hradecky in the Leverkusen goal, as he made a superb stop to his right from point-blank range to deny the Brazilian.

Roma upped their tempo in the second period, and eventually they struck in the 63rd minute to take the lead. Tammy Abraham’s initial low strike from inside the box was well saved by Hradecky, but the rebound dropped to Bove, who placed the ball into the far corner to score his first goal for the Giallorossi in European competition.

Mourinho’s side held on in the latter stages to keep an important clean sheet and head into next week’s second leg at the BayArena with a lead.

TALKING POINT – Roma get result but tie remains in the balance

This was a cagey game. Both sides looked hesitant and prioritised getting men behind the ball rather than going all-out attack mode. Alonso opting for that choice of gameplan was always going to play into Mourinho and Roma’s hands, and so it proved.

The Giallorossi were more on the front-foot in the second period of the game, and that switch in emphasis helped them get their important goal, which sees them take a narrow lead into next week’s second leg.

The tie is far from over, however, and Leverkusen have in recent weeks been a dangerous outfit at the BayArena. Die Werkself have won five of their last seven home games in all competitions, scoring 15 goals in those matches. It is still all to play for, with a place in a European final at stake.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Edmond Tapsoba

Leverkusen may have fallen short of expectations when it came to their overall performance levels, but one of their standout players was their 24-year-old centre back, Edmond Tapsoba.

The Burkina Faso defender was one of the reasons why Die Werkself did not concede more goals, as he made some crucial clearances and won important headers while defending set-pieces.

In total, Tapsoba won seven aerial duals, made three successful tackles, completed five clearances and also added to those with three interceptions.

PLAYER RATINGS

AS Roma: Patricio 6, Ibanez 7, Cristante 7, Mancini 6, Spinazzola 6, Matic 7, Bove 7, Celik 6, Pellegrini 7, Abraham 7, Belotti 6. Subs: Wijnaldum 6, Dybala 6.

Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky 7, Kossounou 6, Tah 6, Tapsoba 8, Hincapie 7, Andrich 6, Palacios 6, Frimpong 6, Diaby 5, Wirtz 7, Hlozek 6. Subs: Bakker 6, Azmoun 6, Amiri 6, Adli 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

6’ – JUST WIDE! – What a move from the visitors! Hlozek plays in Wirtz with the give-and-go inside the box, and the latter goes for goal with a low strike, but it just flies past the post! Roma must be sweating because Leverkusen have created two good chances within the first seven minutes.

17’ – BIG SAVE! – Abraham is fouled and Roma have a free-kick from deep. It is clipped into the danger area by Spinazzola, and Ibanez finds a yard in the box and gets a great header on the ball, but it is brilliantly saved at point-blank range by Hradecky! Abraham cannot quite get to the rebound and the danger is gone. Closest Roma have come to finding the net in these opening 17 minutes.

63’ – GOAL! (Edoardo Bove) – A long ball is played forward for Abraham, who knocks it down for Bove. The young midfielder drives forward into the box, and lays it off for the English striker. Initially, Abraham’s low strike from within the box is well saved by Hradecky, but the rebound drops back to Bove, who puts the ball in to give the Giallorossi the lead!

66’ – DOUBLE CHANCE! – Belotti drives into the box down the right channel, and does well to shift it onto his right foot to give himself a yard at an acute angle. He then goes for goal towards Hradecky’s near post, but the Leverkusen goalkeeper makes a good save to deny him. Once again, the rebound drops to Bove, but the Roma midfielder lacks the composure and fires his effort well over the bar.

84’ – NERVY MOMENTS! – There is miscommunication as Patricio and Ibanez both go for the same loose ball! Neither get to it, and Frimpong is there to pounce, but luckily for Roma, his effort is kept out. Eventually, the flag goes up for offside anyways. Nervy moments for the home side.

KEY STATS

• Edoardo Bove (20 years, 360 days) becomes the youngest AS Roma player to score a goal in the semi-final of a European competition.
• Bayer Leverkusen’s run of nine consecutive away matches without defeat in all competitions comes to an end – they last lost on their travels back on February 3 against Augsburg in the Bundesliga.
• Roma end a four-match winless run in all competitions (L2, D2).