Roma take narrow lead over Bayer Leverkusen in Europa League semi-final

AS Roma grabbed a 1-0 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday, thanks to 20-year-old Edoardo Bove’s second-half goal.

Roma youth product Bove stabbed in the winner on the rebound in the 63rd minute for his first European goal.

Roma, bidding to win back-to-back European titles under coach Jose Mourinho following last season’s Europa Conference League triumph, travel to Leverkusen next week for the return leg.

The winners will face Juventus or Sevilla, who drew 1-1 in their first leg, in the final.

Federico Gatti scored with a header seven minutes into added time to earn Juventus the home draw. Sevilla ignored the pressure of the Italian crowd at a packed Allianz Stadium and Youssef En-Nesyri gave them the lead in the 26th minute.