Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface remained on the bench as an unused substitute during Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable 2-0 victory against AS Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.
Florian Wirtz secured the lead for the 28th minute, ending the first half, while Robert Andrich extended Xabi Alonso's team's advantage by doubling the lead in the 73rd minute.
Last season, these teams clashed in the semi-final, seeing Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi progress with a 1-0 aggregate score. However, significant transformations have unfolded for both sides in the span of a year.
Alonso surprised many football enthusiasts by opting to field a lineup without a traditional striker, choosing Amine Adli to operate as a false 9, while Boniface and Patrik Schik remained on the bench.
Alonso' remarks after triumph over Roma
Reflecting on the season's progression, Alonso stressed the evolution in their approach, style of play, and strategic ideas. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the Leverkusen coach stated, “We’ve had a whole other season with a different approach, different style of football and different ideas. We have the same determination as last year in a great atmosphere.”
Despite facing tough opponents, Alonso remained positive, noting the absence of injuries and the careful selection of the starting lineup for the match. He added, “Fortunately, there are no injuries, we simply chose this XI with the hope it will go well for this game. We aim to play in a complete fashion, so there will be phases when we need to defend with sacrifice and others where we will attack.”
Alonso further highlighted the team's aggressive approach from the outset, accentuating their compact defence and effective use of counter-attacks.
“We had a chance to score the third goal, we played aggressively from the first minute, with a compact defense and counter-attacks. We played an important attacking game, but we didn’t make the best of the opportunities we had. However, we are satisfied,” Alonso said as per Romapress.
Despite their strong showing, Alonso remained cautious about the challenges posed by Roma in the return leg.
He acknowledged the potential for a comeback from their opponents while expressing his happiness with the team's performance.
Alonso concluded, “We still have plenty to worry about Roma. They could make a comeback in the return leg. But I’m happy, and I hope to be able to celebrate next week with the fans.”
Alonso's bold gamble: Schick and Victor Boniface's Europa League brilliance highlights risky strategy
In Bayer Leverkusen's Europa League campaign this season, both Schick and Boniface have been key contributors to their team's success.
Schick has showcased his scoring prowess with five goals in seven appearances. Impressively, he started in five of those matches, confirming his importance to the team's attacking lineup.
Not to be outdone, Boniface has also been a force to reckon with, making seven appearances in the current Europa League campaign. The dynamic forward started in four of those matches, matching Schick's tally of five goals.
Bayer Leverkusen near historic milestone with 47-game streak
Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten run in competitive football has reached a staggering 47 games following their recent result in Rome.
The German outfit find themselves on the cusp of history, just one game away from matching the legendary 48-game unbeaten run set by Benfica between December 1963 and February 1965.
Leverkusen's extraordinary consistency has seen them secure victory in an impressive 40 of these matches, while settling for draws in the remaining seven.
As they inch closer to Benfica's long-standing record, Leverkusen's feat serves as a testament to their dominance on the field, and their ability to navigate through challenges with resilience and determination.
With history within touching distance, all eyes are on Leverkusen as they strive to etch their names alongside the greats of European football.
When is the reverse fixture?
Leverkusen will host the Giallorossi in the second leg tie on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Bay Arena.
