Bayer-Roma 2-2, Giallorossi out in the semi-final

THE MATCH
So it really hurts. Because Roma fought and spit blood until the last second, putting Bayer on the ropes and being condemned by the best on the pitch up to that moment, Svilar. The goalkeeper kept his team alive at 0-0 with some miraculous interventions, while Paredes did the rest from the spot, canceling out the 0-2 at the Olimpico. Then Svilar’s mistake resulting in Mancini’s unfortunate own goal made everything in vain. However, there remains a performance to start from and a bit of regret for the first leg match. The strongest team goes to the final, even if with a little more luck the final result could have been different.

Xabi Alonso gives up the scorers of the first leg, Wirtz and Andrich, from the start. In attack, chance for Hlozek, with the former Schick also on the bench. De Rossi chooses a three-man defence, with Angeliño as left arm with Mancini and Ndicka. Dybala starts from the bench, in attack alongside Lukaku is the former Azmoun. With nothing to lose, Roma immediately started strong and in the 4th minute Kovar came out to save on Lukaku triggered by a pass from Pellegrini. In the first 20′ the Giallorossi played on equal terms with the Germans, who responded in the 16th minute with a central right-footed shot from the edge of the area by Palacios which was rejected by Svilar. A minute later Pellegrini tries with a diving header, central ball. De Rossi loses Spinazzola: Zalewki in. Bayer increases the engine speed and Roma is in difficulty especially on the right flank, where the Polish player who has just entered struggles to keep the unleashed Frimpong down. To stop the hosts requires a great Svilar and a pinch of luck which never hurts. In the 23rd minute Mancini saved from Hlozek and prevented a goal, then Svilar raised the Czech attacker’s free kick over the crossbar. In the 29th minute Palacios hits the post and the back of Svilar, then Ndicka saves near the goal line. It’s a real siege, Roma struggle to get out of their own half and in the 32nd minute Svilar flies over Frimpong’s shot, then Angeliño blocks the Dutch winger’s shot. After an imprecise diagonal from Hofmann, Svilar outdoes himself, first clearing Adli and then blocking Hlozek’s rebound. In the best moment of the German champions, Roma passes: Tah holds Azmoun in the area, Makkelie points to the spot with Paredes who shoots centrally but displaces Kovar and reopens the qualifying discussion (43′). Bayer felt the pinch and in the 45th minute Tapsoda anticipated Azmoun and saved his opponent.

The match is beautiful and spectacular even in the second half, with Roma playing with greater courage after Paredes’ goal. Azmoun and El Shaarawy scare Kovar, his colleague Svilar is always attentive and punctual in his exits, like on Hofmann. De Rossi’s boys have the great merit of believing in it and not giving up and in the 63rd minute here is the episode that puts everything back into balance: Hlozek hits with a hand in the melee after a corner, Makkelie called back by the VAR awards the penalty kick. Paredes goes to the spot again, this time shooting low, but with a similar result: Kovar wrong-footed and the goal makes it 2-0. The Giallorossi are starting to feel tired, Azmoun and Angelino are replaced due to cramps and Pellegrini makes way for Abraham so as not to leave Lukaku too alone up front. Bayer launches into the attack, lacking a bit of clarity but certainly not luck. In the 82nd minute Svilar comes out badly on a corner, the ball caroms off Mancini and ends up in the net. An atrocious joke. Makkelie assigns 7′ of injury time and Stanisic makes it 2-2 in the last attack, bringing the useful results of the new German champions to 49.

REPORT CARDS
Frimpong 7.5 – He is among the smallest on the pitch, but on the right flank he is a true giant. He drives Zalewski crazy, forcing De Rossi to move El Shaarawy. When he leaves the ball at his feet he is uncatchable. The attempts against the Giallorossi bench in the very heated final were a discordant note.
Palacios 6.5 – Excellent performance from the Argentine midfielder, who also comes close to scoring but the post and Svilar’s back save Roma. The understanding with Xhaka is excellent.
Tah 5 – With the team in full control, he thinks well of hugging his former teammate Azmoun in the area for the penalty that reopens the qualification discussion. Unforgivable for someone of his experience.

Paredes 7.5 – Ice-cold twice from the spot, he doesn’t even miss his contribution in the middle of the pitch. Having players like that.
Svilar 6 – His photo is the average between what was done up to the 82nd minute (performance of 8) and the unfortunate exit that favored Mancini’s own goal (4). Really a bad stain on an almost perfect performance.
Zalewski 5 – After about twenty minutes in place of the injured Spinazzola, the Pole is overwhelmed by Frimpong. Better when De Rossi changes his wing, but no high notes.

THE SCORESHEET
BAYER LEVERKUSEN-ROMA 2-2 (AND. 2-0)
Bayer Leverkusen (3-5-2): Kovar 6; Tapsoda 6, Tah 5, Hincapié 6.5; Frimpong 7.5 (45′ st Stanisic 6.5), Hofmann 5 (36′ st Wirtz sv), Xhaka 6.5, Palacios 6.5 (45′ st Kossounou sv), Grimaldo 6; Adli 6, Hlozek 5 (29′ st Schick 5.5). Available: Hradecky, Lomb, Andrich, Borja Iglesias, Arthur, Tella, Boniface, Puerta. All.: Xabi Alonso 6.5
Rome (3-4-1-2): Svilar 6; Mancini 6.5, Ndicka 6.5, Angeliño 6 (36′ st Smalling sv); El Shaarawy 6, Cristante 6, Paredes 7.5, Spinazzola 6 (21′ Zalewski 5); Pellegrini 6 (36′ st Abraham sv); Azmoun 6 (27′ st Bove 5.5), Lukaku 5.5. Available: Rui Patricio, Karsdorp, Llorente, Celik, Renato Sanches, Dybala, Aouar, Baldanzi. All.: De Rossi 6.5
Referee: Makkelie (Holland)
Markers: 43′ pen. and 21′ st pen. Paredes (B), 37′ st author. Mancini (B), 52′ st Stanisic (B)
Warned: Pellegrini (R), Mancini (R), Tapsoda (B), Paredes (B), Zalewski (R), Tah (B), Adli (B)
Expelled:-
Note:-