From TT – May 2, 2024 11:00 p.m. (Act. May 2, 2024 11:00 p.m.)
©AP
Bayer Leverkusen confidently won 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, the second semi-final between Marseille and Atalanta ended in a 1-1 draw.
The two first legs of the semi-final duels of the UEFA Europa League took place on Thursday evening.
Leverkusen remains invincible
Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma had already met in the semi-finals last year. At that time, the Italians prevailed despite the overwhelming superiority of the “Werkself”, so the new German champions were looking for revenge.
It took a little more than 20 minutes for the first high-caliber player to arrive; Lukaku hit the top of the crossbar with a header. Subsequently, it was the guests from Leverkusen who had good chances. Frimpong initially missed from close range, but after the Italians lost the ball in a hair-raising manner, Wirtz then put his team in the lead (28th). Frimpong and Wirtz found further opportunities to score, but they were unsuccessful. Pellegrini tried a shot at the Romans, but it also missed its target.
73 minutes had already been completed when Alonso’s team increased the lead to 2-0. Andrich got to the ball just outside the box and beat Roma goalkeeper Kovar with his wonderful shot. The “Werkself” controlled the action on the pitch almost at will, but once the Romans appeared twice in front of goalkeeper Svilar. However, Azmoun was decisively disturbed by an opponent when he finished and was unable to put enough pressure behind the ball (84′). In stoppage time, Abraham suddenly got a header from close range, but didn’t put the ball on goal.
In the end, it was a safe 2-0 away win for Bayer Leverkusen, while at the same time Alonso’s team extended their series of unbeaten games in a row to 47. Reaching the final seems to be just a formality, the dream of the perfect season lives on.
No winner in Marseille
Olympique Marseille had eliminated Benfica Lisbon on penalties in the quarter-finals, and now the French faced Liverpool conquerors Atalanta Bergamo in the semi-finals. Scamacca put the guests from Italy in the front after just eleven minutes, Marseille then found their way into the game better and were rewarded with the equalizer from Mbemba (20th). Three minutes before the break, Aubameyang had a great chance to take the lead for his team for the first time, but the 34-year-old veteran failed to put the ball in the goal after a perfectly executed counterattack.
After the restart, less than half an hour had passed when the French were once again close to taking the lead. However, Ounahi was unlucky in his attempt, the leather hit the crossbar. But the guests also had a sniff of the decisive goal; substitute Miranchuk narrowly missed the decision shortly before the end.
In the end, the two teams separated with a 1-1 draw, which guarantees excitement for the second leg in Lombardy.