Football

UEFA Europa League SFs 1st Leg: Bayer Leverkusen Beat AS Roma - In Pics

An imposing stadium in a major foreign capital did nothing to stop Bayer Leverkusen’s record unbeaten march across Europe. The freshly crowned first-time Bundesliga champion silenced the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday to extend its unbeaten streak to 47 matches across all competitions. No club from Europe’s five biggest leagues — in Germany, England, Italy, Spain and France — has had a longer unbeaten streak. The result also marked a measure of revenge for Leverkusen — since Roma had beaten the German club in this exact same stage last season for its last defeat in Europe. Leverkusen’s last loss across all competitions was a 3-0 defeat to Bochum in the final round of last season’s Bundesliga nearly a year ago — on May 27, 2023.

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Europa League Semi Final: Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma
UEFA Europa League Semi Final: Bayer Leverkusen vs AS Roma | Photo: AP/Andrew Medichini

Bayer Leverkusen applaud fans as they celebrate at the end of the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy. Bayer Leverkusen won 0-2.

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Leverkusens Jonas Hofmann and Granit Xhaka celebrate their victory
Leverkusen's players celebrate their victory | Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino
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Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann, left, Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka celebrate their victory at during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Italy.

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Leverkusens head coach Xabi Alonso, right, congratulates players
AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen won 0-2. | Photo: AP/Andrew Medichini
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Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso, right, congratulates his players at the end of the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.

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Bayer Leverkusen fans celebrate Teams victory
AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen | Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino
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Bayer Leverkusen fans celebrate at the end of the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.

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Leverkusen and Roma players scuffle
Players scuffle during the Europa League semifinal | Photo: Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP
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Leverkusen and Roma players scuffle during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.

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Romas Karsdorp, left challenged by Leverkusens Frimpong
Roma's Rick Karsdorp, left, and Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong | Photo: AP/Andrew Medichini
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Roma's Rick Karsdorp, left, is challenged by Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.

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Romas Gianluca Mancini and Leverkusens Amine Adli
Gianluca Mancini, left, fights for the ball with Adli | Photo: AP/Andrew Medichini
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Roma's Gianluca Mancini, left, fights for the ball with Leverkusen's Amine Adli during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.

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Paulo Dybala duels with Robert Andrich
Roma's Paulo Dybala and Leverkusen's Robert Andrich | Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino
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Leverkusen's Robert Andrich, left, challenges for the ball with Roma's Paulo Dybala during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Italy.

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Romas Dybala, right, is challenged by Leverkusens Adli
Paulo Dybala, right, is challenged by Amine Adli | Photo: AP/Andrew Medichini
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Roma's Paulo Dybala, right, is challenged by Leverkusen's Amine Adli during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Roma and Bayer Leverkusen at Rome's Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.