Hello, I am Louis Wright and I will be taking you through this evenings clash between Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma in the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals. Leverkusen have the advantage after their 2-0 victory away at the Stadio Olimpico last week thanks to goals from Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich, and are favourites to seal their ticket to Dublin tonight as they kick off at 20:00 BST at the BayArena.
AS Roma have won their last 11 consecutive two-legged UEFA ties but will need something special tonight as Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side have their sights firmly set on the treble, and are yet to be defeated this season across all competitions.
18:48 BST: Bayer Leverkusen announce their starting XI.
Three changes from last weeks XI tonight, with last weeks goal-scorers Wirtz and Andrich both on the bench tonight, joined by Josip Stanisic. They are replaced by Hofmann, Hlozek and Palacios. Wirtz starting on the bench tonight really shows how confident Xabi Alonso is going into this game.
18:55 BST: AS Roma announce their starting XI.
Three changes for both sides as Smalling and Karsdorp are replaced by N’Dicka and Angelino, whilst Dybala makes way for the Leverkusen loanee, Azmoun.
1′ KICK OFF: Referee Danny Makkelie gets the game underway at the BayArena.
3′ Leverkusen chance as Adli plays Hlozek in behind the defence who squares it towards Frimpong in the penalty area but it is intercepted and out for a corner.
4′ Roma bite back almost instantly as Pellegrini’s long ball from the left hand side puts Lukaku in one-on-one but his touch lets him down and the keeper collects.
10′ Roma are looking a lot more energetic in the opening 10 minutes here than last week at the Stadio Olimpico.
16′ Palacios fires a right footed shot from the edge of the box straight at Svilar, marking the first time either goalkeeper has been tested this evening.
17′ Roma answer quickly as Pellegrini is at the end of a floated cross from the right hand side but his header is straight at the goalkeeper.
19′ The Roma players are unhappy that Frimpong did not put the ball out of play whilst Spinazzola had gone down injured as we see a confrontation between the two sides.
20′ YELLOW CARD: Mancini has been cautioned by the referee following the disagreement.
20′ YELLOW CARD: Tapsoba is also shown a yellow.
21′ ROMA SUBSTITUTION: Spinazzola has been forced off with an injury and is replaced by Zalewski.
23′ The best chance of the evening so far as Hlozek shoots from inside the penalty area but the incoming pressure from Mancini is enough to put him off as the ball goes out for a Leverkusen corner.
27′ YELLOW CARD: Paredes is shown a yellow after a bad challenge on Palacios.
28′ YELLOW CARD: Yellow card for the substitute Zalewski for holding back Frimpong as he attempted to progress towards the byline.
29′ Following a slick free kick routine, Palacios’ shot from the edge of the box somehow finds its way through a sea of bodies and hits the post and Roma clear up.
31′ Frimpong tries to curl one in and forces a fingertip save from Svilar and the ball is out for a Leverkusen corner.
34′ Roma are struggling to deal with Jeremie Frimpong as the Dutchman is finding all sorts of joy on the right-hand side at the moment.
39′ A lovely passage of play from Leverkusen is denied the finish as Svilar makes a huge double save to keep it level on the night.
41′ PENALTY DECISION: Azmoun is pulled down in the box by captain Jonathan Tah and the penalty has been given, VAR check over. Penalty to Roma.
43′ GOAL! ROMA: Paredes steps up and smashes the penalty straight down the middle and opens the scoring. 0-1 (2-1).
45′ Four minutes of additional time are announced.
45+4′ HALF TIME: The whistle has gone for the break.
After being up against it for most of the first half having to deal with 17 Leverkusen attempts, Roma have gone into the break with a real chance to get something out of this game. The opener has given them a second wind and they were looking very threatening in the closing minutes as Leverkusen struggled to regain composure. Leverkusen’s unbeaten record is under threat and we have a very exciting second half ahead.
45′ SECOND HALF: We are back underway at the BayArena.
49′ Roma have already found some space as Cristante takes a shot from inside the box but its gone straight into the keepers arms.
54′ Similar game to the first half so far – Leverkusen are looking very dangerous but they’re missing the final product.
57′ Roma have forced a couple of saves from Kovar in the last few minutes and are carrying a real threat.
58′ Hofmann comes agonisingly close at the end of a counter-attack led by Frimpong as Svilar makes yet another important save.
60′ Roma give the ball away just outside their own box but the shot from Hlozek is straight at Svilar.
63′ VAR CHECK: Strong appeals for a handball in the box following a Roma corner, VAR check underway.
65′ PENALTY DECISION: The referee has awarded Roma the penalty after being sent to the monitor as Hlozek commited a handball in the penalty area.
66′ GOAL! ROMA: Paredes steps up and puts his penalty in the back of the net again! This time he slots it into the bottom left corner as the keeper dives the wrong way. 0-2 (2-2).
72′ ROMA SUBSTITUTION: Azmoun comes off for Bove.
73′ Another huge chance wasted for Leverkusen as Adli’s left-footed shot is driven past the post from inside the penalty area.
74′ LEVERKUSEN SUBSTITUTION: Schick comes on for Hlozek against his former club.
80′ ROMA SUBSTITUTION: A double substitution here as Angelino is replaced by Smalling whilst Pellegrini makes way for Abraham.
80′ LEVERKUSEN SUBSTITUTION: Wirtz has come on for Hofmann.
82′ GOAL! LEVERKUSEN: Scenes in Leverkusen as the corner from Grimaldo comes in and misses everyone before clattering off the head of an unsuspecting Mancini who has scored an own goal here at the BayArena. 1-2 (3-2).
88′ Leverkusen are creating a multitude of chances and are really pushing for a second goal here in the late stages.
89′ Frimpong is one-on-one with Svilar but squanders his chance as the Serbian makes his 13th save of the evening.
90′ Seven minutes of additional time to come.
90′ YELLOW CARD: Wirtz is shown a yellow card.
90′ LEVERKUSEN SUBSTITUTION: Another double substitution as Grimaldo comes off for Kossounou and Frimpong comes off for Stanisic.
90+7′ GOAL! LEVERKUSEN: Stanisic keeps the unbeaten run alive in the dying moments as he cuts into the box from the right hand side and his left footed shot is finely placed into the far corner, incredible scenes. 2-2 (4-2).
90+9′ FULL TIME: The final whistle has gone and Leverkusen are into the final in Dublin.
Leverkusen have yet again come back from beyond the 80th minute as they break Benfica’s European record unbeaten streak of 48 games from December 1963 – February 1965 by hitting game 49 this evening, not to mention it was in a European semi-final! A brilliant performance tonight as they have showcased their strength yet again.
A tough one to swallow for Roma as they defended really well tonight, but the sheer amount of chances that Leverkusen created finally made their way through. It’s 2-2 on the night and Xabi Alonso’s team are now only one game away from lifting their first European trophy since 1988, and they are well and truly still on for the treble.
