Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable season continued with a 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich were on target for Xabi Alonso’s men as they registered their 47th game this season without defeat. They now sit just one behind Benfica’s record of 48 set between December 1963 and February 1965.
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The Bundesliga champions took the lead after 28 minutes as Rick Karsdorp’s slip allowed Alex Grimaldo to square for Wirtz to fire home.
And they doubled their advantage with 17 minutes to go, Andrich crashing home a wonderful long-range effort.
WHAT A HIT THAT IS! 💥
Robert Andrich roots the goalkeeper from range ✨
All kicking off after the goal 😬#UEL pic.twitter.com/2HQRuFlJ4K
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 2, 2024
Roma missed a wonderful chance to get on the scoresheet in injury-time, Tammy Abraham nodding over the bar with the goal gaping.
The other semi, between Marseille and Atalanta, is finely poised at 1-1 following the first leg at the Stade Velodrome.
Atalanta, the conquerors of Liverpool in the previous round, went ahead after 11 minutes through Gianluca Scamacca but Chancel Mbemba levelled nine minutes later.