First round against Roma Leverkusen

The smiles on the first welcome of Mourinho and Xabi Alonso, both with Real Madrid backgrounds, disappeared as soon as the referee signaled the start of the match. Each took a path and tried to anticipate the other’s moves, but it was luso who took the cat into the water Argentine Paulo Dybala limped off the pitch from an injury and once again relies on a special stadium to lift his team up in the starting 11 even without their star.

Largely conditioned by his team’s multiple casualties, Setubalense bet on a pair of forwards consisting of Abraham and Belotti. Without Wijnaldum or El Shaarawy, among others, Belotti and Abraham’s opportunity to justify themselves and establish themselves as a dangerous duo couldn’t have been better. However Match started better for Leverkusen.

Xabi Alonso’s team turned out to be very intense at the Olímpico in Rome, with two notable approaches to Rome, although they did not end the dangerous events; set. rival. Therefore, when the referee pointed out a foul in the neutral zone, Olímpico celebrated it, recognizing that in difficult moments the pieces that stood are his best allies. And from there came the best chance of the first half, which changed the game and tipped the balance in favor of the ‘giallorosso’ team. Pellegrini served, Ibáñez finished the game and Kradecky had to save the ‘extreme’, leaving the ball dead in an area Abraham couldn’t reach.

From that moment on, Rome got smaller and smaller, mostly Roma and Leverkusen. And in the second half, the trend where the first act ended was confirmed. Much more vertical than in the beginning, ‘Loba’ began to play percussion. Spinazzola, always well protected by Frimpong, managed to defeat it. And Belotti and Abraham started gasping.

Another set piece terrified Alonso’s crew again. However the match was to be blocked by a young playerA Roman-born player Mourinho has always trusted and is invaluable to his fans. The Italian player recovered the ball near the front, gave way to Abraham in the field, but the striker had to return the ball to his teammate. He unleashed the frenzy in Rome in the 63rd minute.approaching what will be the second consecutive European final.

Mourinho asked all his players to strive for every ball. More involved than ever from the bench, Leverkusen didn’t want Leverkusen, who has shown quality in every position close to the pitch, to punch Rui Patricio’s door, as he knew it was almost like scoring another goal to go to Germany without conceding a goal. He understood, but not without fear in the last bars. Ibáñez and Rui Patricio caused it when they collided in the area Frimpong didn’t know how to exploit and released the ball. But nothing breaks the ‘giallorosso’ wall. Ibrahim left his lungs in every race. Dybala and Wijnaldum brought new pressure and Cristante played as if he had spent his entire career as a defender.

Mourinho won his student’s first duel. But the tie is still very open. Leverkusen will decide everything, but Rome travels with advantage.