In the end, the old fox devoured the little chick. Jose Mourinho won a match by playing with Italian spirit, defending to the bitter end and putting up a formidable wall that Bayer Leverkusen were unable to break down.
Xabi Alonso has built a very 'Spanish' team at the German club, capable of playing with intensity and statistically dominating Roma. 23 shots on target for Leverkusen against just one shot from the yellow and red team, 72 per cent ball possession for the Germans against 28 per cent for Roma: a technical and tactical feat which, however, failed to see the former Liverpool playmaker reach the Europa League final.