Andrich stunner sees Leverkusen's unbeaten run continue with first-leg triumph

Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich were on target as Bayer Leverkusen kept their treble bid firmly on course with a hugely impressive 2-0 victory at AS Roma in the first-leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final.

Xabi Alonso’s newly-crowned Bundesliga champions took the lead through Wirtz’s low finish on 28 minutes but perhaps could have been further in front at the interval such was their dominance and menace in the final third.

Roma had hit the woodwork through Romelu Lukaku and also went close in the second period through Bryan Cristante and substitute Tammy Abraham but could not unlock the German outfit and eventually fell to just a second loss in 26 home matches in the competition.

Leverkusen were always in control and got the second goal their performance deserved when Andrich curved in a stunning effort 17 minutes from time to make it 47 matches unbeaten this season.

The teams will now reconvene next Thursday for the second leg in Germany with a place in the final in Dublin against Atalanta or Marseille on May 22 at stake.

Leverkusen came unstuck against Roma at this stage of the competition last season, but that never looked like being the case this time around.

With the German league already in the bag and a domestic cup final against lower league opposition, FC Kaiserslautern upcoming, that treble dream looks very much on as they will head into the second leg of this crunch tie as heavy favourites to reach Dublin.

The omens looks good for the final too. Die Schwarzroten are now unbeaten in all 11 UEL matches this season and could yet emulate Chelsea, Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt in becoming only the fourth side to go from group stage to the final unbeaten (the previous three all lifted the trophy).

Indeed, this was also a 47th match unbeaten this season and they are now a maximum six games from the immortality of navigating the whole campaign without being defeated.

Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen). The youngster helped himself to an early present on the eve of his 21st birthday with a goal to cap another inventive and top-class performance. The Germany star was at the heart of all of his team’s moves as they continue to send shockwaves around Europe with their slick brand of football.

AS ROMA: Svilar 7, Karsdorp 5, Mancini 6, Smalling 6, Spinazzola 7, Cristante 7, Paredes 7, Pellegrini 7, Dybala 6, Lukaku 6, El Shaarawy 6. Subs: Angelino 6, Azmoun n/a, Baldanzi n/a, Abraham n/a.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Kovar 8, Stanisic 8, Tah 8, Tapsoba 8, Frimpong 9, Andrich 8, Xhaka 8, Hincapie 8, Wirtz 9*, Adli 9, Grimaldo 9. Subs: Tella 6, Hofmann 6, Palacios n/a, Kossounou n/a.

21’ – AS ROMA CHANCE! Lukaku’s firm header thuds against the crossbar after Paredes had brilliantly flicked a right-wing corner back into the danger zone.

23’ – BAYER LEVERKUSEN CHANCE! Frimpong charges on to Wirtz’s sublime pass but flashes his shot into the side netting from the right side of the box. A big opportunity goes begging for the visitors.

28’ – GOAL! – AS Roma 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen: (Wirtz). The visitors take advantage of a mistake by Karsdorp as Álex Grimaldo seizes possession on the left of the area and tees up Wirtz for a tap-in.

73’ – GOAL! – AS Roma 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen: (Andrich). That’s a beauty! A dangerous move looks like petering out, but Andrich has other ideas as he pings a superb strike into the far corner from 25 yards.

90+1’ – AS ROMA CHANCE! Abraham somehow heads over from inside the six-yard box with the goal gaping and the keeper in no man’s land!