Roma once again threw away a 2-0 lead to Bayer Leverkusen, but eventually scraped a precious 3-2 Champions League victory.
See how it all unfolded on our LIVEBLOG.
As Barcelona swept BATE Borisov aside 3-0, the Italians go second in the Group on five points with Leverkusen on four.
Roma once again threw away a 2-0 lead to Bayer Leverkusen, but eventually scraped a precious 3-2 Champions League victory.
See how it all unfolded on our LIVEBLOG.
As Barcelona swept BATE Borisov aside 3-0, the Italians go second in the Group on five points with Leverkusen on four.
These sides played a spectacular 4-4 draw in Germany, as the Giallorossi fought back from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 before capitulating in the final minutes. Bottom of the Champions League group, the hosts desperately needed a victory, but missed Francesco Totti, Seydou Keita and Kevin Strootman. Bayer were without Lars Bender, Tin Jedvaj, Roberto Hilbert and Seung-Woo Ryu.
It took only 100 seconds to break the deadlock, as Mohamed Salah turned on the afterburners on the counter from midfield on an Edin Dzeko pass and smashed a powerful finish despite Leno getting a hand to it at the near post.
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez couldn’t get a Hakan Calhanoglu free kick under control at full stretch, while Gervinho was caught offside in a couple of dangerous situations.
The Giallorossi doubled their lead in similar fashion, as Radja Nainggolan’s through ball sent Dzeko running from the centre-circle and he kept his cool to sweep past Leno with the inside of his right boot. It was the Bosnian’s first Champions League goal since November 2013 and he hadn’t found the net for Roma since August 30.
Moments later it should’ve been 3-0 when Salah crossed for the totally unmarked Dzeko, but this time the ex-Manchester City striker rushed his finish and ballooned over the bar.
Wojciech Szczesny had his first save after 39 minutes on a Chicharito flicked volley, but it was all Roma in the first half and they wasted another sitter. Salah went past Wendell with Dzeko and Gervinho unmarked, but the Egyptian’s pass was weak and intercepted by the only remaining Bayer defender.
In stoppages Salah did the same thing, hesitating when it came to the final pass and wasting his good work getting into the box.
Within seconds of the restart with a tactical change, Bayer Leverkusen got back into the game with Admir Mehmedi smashing under the bar from the corner of the box, surprising Szczesny on his post.
Roma were visibly frightened and the comeback was completed moments later, as Chicharito sprung the offside trap on a Karim Bellarabi through ball and thumped the angled drive across Szczesny.
Alessandro Florenzi was not 100 per cent fit and had to come off, but Bayer were now dominating in a complete turnaround from the first half. Kostas Manolas was decisive to stop Bellarabi going clear, then Mehmedi burst down the by-line and Szczesny denied him another goal with an outstretched foot at the near post.
Roma had two penalty appeals in one waved away, as Antonio Rudiger and Dzeko looked to be pushed as Pjanic whipped in a free kick. Salah scuffed a finish wide, but both Bellarabi and Douglas Maicon went off injured.
The turning point arrived when a chaotic move saw Dzeko and Pjanic efforts charged down, then Salah was about to tap in from a yard when Omer Toprak shoved him in the back. The penalty and red card were inevitable, as was Pjanic converting the spot-kick by drilling it beneath Leno.
Dzeko pulled back from the by-line with both Juan Manuel Iturbe and Salah waiting, but Wendell intercepted.
Roma 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Scorers: Salah 2 (R), Dzeko 29 (R), Mehmedi 46 (B), Hernandez 51 (B), Pjanic pen 81 (R)
Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi (Maicon 56) (Torosidis 76), Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Salah, Dzeko, Gervinho (Iturbe 68)
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno; Donati, Tah, Papadopoulos, Wendell; Omer Toprak, Kampl; Mehmedi (Brandt 88), Kiessling (Bellarabi 46) (Kramer 73), Hernandez, Hakan Calhanoglu
Ref: Karasev (RUS)
Sent off: Omer Toprak 79 (B)