A goal from Bove, in the 63rd minute and off a shot from England’s Abraham, came to make the difference at the Olímpico de Rome as the Portuguese coach’s side created more scoring chances and made the home factor count.
Holder in goal for the Romans, the 35-year-old Portugal international reached 67 appearances in the second European club competition, between appearances for Sporting, Wolverhampton and Roma, isolating himself in relation to Serbian Aleksandar Dragovic, who adds 66. Daniel Carriço is third with 61.
Despite the German dominance in possession, the formation of Bayer Leverkusen, coached by Spaniard Xabi Alonso, was hardly bothered by Patrício, not even by the Italian team’s withdrawal into the field after the goal.
The two teams will meet again in Germany on May 18, a week from now, with Jose Mourinho a stone’s throw from another European final, after winning the Europa Conference League with Roma last season and adding it to two Champions Leagues, a Europa League and a UEFA Cup.
Juve draws Sevilla in extra time
In the other game of the ‘socks’, the ‘inevitable’ Sevilla seemed to be heading for the new final of the competition, which they have already won a record six times, after a goal from En Nesyri, in the 26th minute, for the Spaniards in the home of Juventus, Sporting’s ‘executioner’ in the quarterfinals.
In Turin, the team coached by José Luis Mendilibar was surprised even at the end of the game, in the seventh minute of extra time, when Frenchman Pogba headed a ball into the small area, where defender Gatti seemed to tie the fight and let everything open to the second hand.
Source: DN
