Goals by Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich gave Bayer Leverkusen a 2-0 advantage over AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday.
The result extends the unbeaten run this season for Xabi Alonso’s team to 47 matches and is also the first win on Italian soil for Leverkusen since 1999, when Michael Ballack scored the decisive goal.
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No club from Europe’s five biggest leagues — in Germany, England, Italy, Spain and France — has had a longer unbeaten streak.
The newly-crowned Bundesliga champions and German Cup finalists took the lead through Wirtz before the half-hour mark when the midfielder scored with a simple low finish, capitalising on Roma’s defensive error.
Andrich doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute, leaving Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar with no chance when he fired an unstoppable shot from outside the box and under the bar.
The second leg will be played in Leverkusen next Thursday and the winner of the tie will face Marseille or Atalanta in the final on May 22 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
