20:24
Back to the present: Bayer suffered their first defeat since mid-February in the Rhenish Derby of all places (and after the much-discussed early postponement of the game due to today’s semi-final). Cologne won 2-1 and ended Leverkusen’s unbeaten run of 14 competitive games. Despite the derby defeat behind them, the Werkself, as the Bundesliga team that has been in the best form in recent weeks, should be broad enough for today’s semi-finals.
20:15
Roma and Leverkusen met in 2004 and 2015, twice each in the Champions League group stage. While Bayer won the first duel, Rome won the last – there were two draws in between. Most of the time it was a high-scoring affair: 19 goals were scored in four meetings, some of which were memorable. The furious 4-4 draw in Leverkusen in 2015, for example, should still be remembered by many Bayer fans.
20:09
For the Werkself it is the fourth semi-final appearance in their own European history. They then made it to the final twice: In the 2002 Champions League, Leverkusen lost the final against Real Madrid and went down in history as the “runner-up”. 14 years earlier Bayer won the final against Español Barcelona after a first and second leg on penalties – to victory in the 1988 UEFA Cup.
19:56
Good evening and welcome to the semifinals of the Europa League with German participation! Bayer Leverkusen is away to AS Roma in the first leg, kick-off at 9 p.m. at the Stadio Olimpico.