Mourinho’s Roma have left Xabi Alonso indefinitely

Despite the occasions and dominance of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen this Thursday in the second leg of the Europa League semifinal against his coach José Mourinho’s Roma, the ‘giallorossi’ team, true to Portuguese style, made a good 1-0 in the first leg and will play in the final on May 31 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The score was 0-0 Xabi Alonso without his first final as a coach.

The first time is Rome, a shot by Lorenzo Pellegrini who disappeared from the course when the game started. But, from there, it was the Byesterday Leverkusen the creator in the attack, came before Rui Patricio’s goal repeatedly. Unsurprisingly, Xabi Alonso’s side needed to overcome the 1-0 victory achieved by José Mourinho in the first leg.

With Florian Wirtz creating chances, Kerem Demirbay, a novelty in the Bayer Leverkusen half in the absence of Robert Andrich due to injury, and Moussa Diaby gave the Portuguese ‘giallorossi’ goalkeeper a job in the first half. The domain corresponds to the German team, which pressured his rival, and Rome defends, not always correctly.

Diaby’s ball on the crossbar

Diaby crashed the ball onto the crossbar, Rui Patricio had to step in to keep out a shot from Demirbay. as with another Sardar Azmoun, who Xabi Alonso brought into the starting eleven due to the loss of striker Odilon Kossonou. Bayer Leverkusen did almost everything to score in the first half. But his goal did not come.

As soon as the second half started, the referee, Slavko Vincic, stopped the game for two minutes due to poor visibility caused by smoke from flares launched by Bayer Leverkusen fans. After the game resumed, the introduction of Georginio Wijnaldum saw a more consistent Roma, with Tah saving a free kick that was taken by Pellegrini.

Demirbay, always a hero

However, Bayer Leverkusen attacked again, to take control. Time was running against him. Rui Patricio’s work increased and he made a great save with a shot from, again, Demirbay, the star of a great match, the player who created the most danger for Bayer Leverkusen.

But Demirbay’s great fight and the effort of all Bayer Leverkusen, the constant trouble they put in Roma, was not enough for Xabier Alonso’s team to reach the final. He hardly created Roma in attack, but Mourinho’s men managed their profit. The Portuguese team went to Budapest.