(Football News) Roma defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. Jose Mourinho lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Tammy Abraham and Andrea Belotti up front. Paolo Dybala and Gini Wijnaldum were benched along with Chris Smalling. Xabi Alonso set up his team in a regular 3-4-3 formation without the injured Patrick Schick and Karim Bellarabi. Florian Wirtz and Moussa Diaby flanked Czech Republic striker Adam Hlozak. Both teams came into the game after a loss in their respective leagues.

Bayer Leverkusen started the game on the front foot and had a couple of very good chances to open the scoring. In the 18th minute, Roger Ibanez had a golden opportunity to score as he got on the end of Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick. However, his header was brilliantly saved by Lukas Hradecky and Tammy Abraham couldn’t get a touch on the rebound. In the 63rd minute, Roma opened the scoring after Edoardo Bove set up Abraham whose shot was saved by Hradecky. However the rebound this time fell to Bove who hit a good shot towards the far post. The goal was Bove’s 2nd of the season as he continues to cement his place in the first-team squad.

Jeremie Frimpong had an opportunity to score after a spill by Rui Patricio but his shot was blocked on the line by Bryan Christante. The match ended 1-0 for Roma as they will now take a 1-goal advantage to the BayArena next week. It was a game with very few chances but in the end, Roma deserved to win it. Next week it will be a different situation in front of the Leverkusen fans. Roma have a league game against Bologna away from home on the weekend while Bayer Leverkusen also play away at Stuttgart.

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