It certainly won’t be a semi-final second leg like last year. But probably a charged and emotional duel between Leverkusen and Rome in a different way.
Time play and acting are hardly to be expected this time. The sometimes unsportsmanlike performance of AS Roma in last year’s semi-final second leg of the Europa League angered many at Bayer Leverkusen and caused some emotions before the first leg of the new edition.
The German champions themselves ensured that the Romans – completely independent of a perhaps changed philosophy after the departure of the controversial coach José Mourinho – cannot appear so provocatively again on Thursday in Leverkusen (9 p.m. / RTL). After Leverkusen’s 2-0 win in the Eternal City, the Italians now have to take action themselves. But in Leverkusen people are increasingly prepared for petty remarks and provocations.
Hot-tempered Romans, cool Leverkusen people
“They certainly won’t play for time right from the start like they did last year,” said sports director Simon Rolfes. And added with a laugh: “But I don’t know whether it will be much quieter.” Because it was already clear in the first leg that Bayer still had unfinished business with the previous year’s experience. And that the Roma countered with their means. “We converted the provocation well into energy and didn’t become stupid,” said national player Robert Andrich, scorer of the second goal: “But I think things will get hotter in the second leg.”
It was “basically already noticed that Roma tried to sneak a few fouls,” said Rolfes, and the otherwise so moderate managing director is still showing anger and skepticism. In contrast to the previous year, the referee “reacted better,” he said, not without an undertone, “because he didn’t address the issues, calmed down the provocations and didn’t count every fall as a foul. That’s how the game is in the end “It was carried out sensibly and with sporting spirit.”
Alonso’s warning
After the first leg, coach Daniele De Rossi, himself once a very physical player, unabashedly revealed the legal and borderline means the passionate Roma team uses. “I liked the first half,” said the club icon, who was promoted to head coach in January: “We were aggressive and forced them to kick.” And before the second leg he announced: “We have to attack more and show a similar performance to the first half.”
Bayer have to counter this like they did in the first leg, because an early goal could quickly shake up their good starting position. This is also why coach Xabi Alonso – more elegant as a player but just as resistant to duels as De Rossi – strongly warned his team not to see reaching the final as a formality. “You have nothing to lose, we have everything to lose,” he said: “Sometimes it’s a difficult situation. I’ve seen a lot of comebacks. But we’re ready.”
Bayer ready for something historic
Because there is a lot at stake for both of them and even something historical for Bayer. After winning the first German championship early, after the final of the DFB Cup on May 25th against second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the Europa League final against Olympique Marseille or Atalanta Bergamo (first leg 1:1), which will take place three days earlier, will also take place in Dublin can be reached. And at the end you get the triple.
“We still have big goals to achieve in every competition,” said Alonso, deliberately including the Bundesliga because of the possible unbeatability until the end of the season: “This is a big game for us. We have the chance to reach a Europa League final . And we are very close.”
Source: Stern
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