Bayer Leverkusen lost 0-1 (0-0) in the Europa League semi-final first leg at AS Roma. Xabi Alonso has suffered a defeat in a tactical duel with his old mentor José Mourinho.
The Rhinelanders face a very difficult task in the second leg in a week's time if they want to reach the third European Cup final in the club's history after 1988 and 2002. Bayer had won the UEFA Cup in 1988 as a precursor competition, followed by the DFB-Pokal in 1993.