ROME – Bayer Leverkusen are gunning for revenge on May 2, when they travel to a second Europa League semi-final against Roma in as many years after yet another late escape kept their remarkable unbeaten run intact.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen staff were filmed celebrating Roma’s passage past AC Milan in the quarter-finals, and this semi-final, first leg at the Stadio Olimpico is a chance to purge the memory of being “Mourinhoed” in last season’s last four.
Leverkusen’s astonishing run of 46 matches without defeat in all competitions and a maiden Bundesliga title have made them favourites to reach the May 22 final in Dublin.
And the team who broke Bayern Munich’s dominance of German football want payback for the 1-0 aggregate loss to Roma in 2023.
“We have a desire for revenge, and a great hunger to win and get ourselves into the final,” Leverkusen CEO Fernando Corro told Radio Marca.
Leverkusen have scored 16 goals in stoppage time this season in all competitions, the latest coming in the 96th minute of the 2-2 draw with Stuttgart on April 27.
And it has been their habit for late strikes which has got them back to the Europa League semi-finals, with former Roma man Patrik Schick scoring thrice in added time over their 5-4 last-16 win against Qarabag and two more late goals helping them past West Ham in the quarter-finals.
Coach Alonso said his team’s ability to claw back results at the death was “hard to explain” but is hoping it holds out for the rest of the campaign.
“Our main objective was to become (German) champions, but now we don’t want to stop,” he said on Sky Sports.
“The goal is clear. We want to stay undefeated until the end of the season.”
While Leverkusen can concentrate on Europe, Daniele de Rossi’s Roma have had a frantic last few weeks as they scrabble to take advantage of Serie A getting an extra spot in next season’s Champions League and aim for a third continental final in as many years.
The Italians are undoubtedly tired after beating Milan to reach the last four, a tie which was preceded by the Rome derby against Lazio and followed by clashes with direct top-five rivals Bologna and Napoli, as well as their win at Udinese which had to be played over two acts after Evan Ndicka’s on-pitch collapse.
Their next two league fixtures are with Juventus and Atalanta – who are two points behind Roma – making the next fortnight crucial for de Rossi, who has turned his boyhood club around since replacing Jose Mourinho in January.
“I’ve got players who are trying to get something from this season,” he said.
“We know it’s going to be difficult... we have to find the results we need to get into the Champions League or win the Europa League.”
De Rossi will be boosted by the return of Romelu Lukaku alongside Paulo Dybala, after the Belgium striker shook off a thigh problem. Also back are Chris Smalling and Leandro Paredes.
“We have to be perfect because if they don’t ever lose, it means that they have something special,” added de Rossi.
“They’re unbeaten, but they’re not unbeatable.” AFP
