By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 2, 2024

The imperial form of Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigerian duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella makes Roma coach Danielle De Rossi apprehensive ahead of Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg clash at Stadio Olimpico.

Boniface has scored five Europa League goals for Leverkusen and 17 across all competitions in his first season with the newly crowned German Bundesliga champions, while Tella, a midfielder, has six crucial goals to his name.

As the rejuvenated Giallorossi host the unbeaten Germans, De Rossi reckons their work is well cut out, listing the Nigerian internationals among the players who make the visitors fearful.

“They have strong players put in the ideal conditions to do well. They have a physical, solid team, but they also have great quality. Wirtz, Grimaldo. Schick has always been strong, but now he is a man. Boniface is strong. They have strong replacements,” said the former Italy midfielder, as cited by Football Italia.

He added, “If Frimpong doesn’t play, Tella plays. They have quality players but also great skill. They know how to play, but they also know how to be direct. They have built a really strong team thanks to the coach’s ideas but also thanks to important signings.

“There’s everything to fear. The way they play, they have a long streak of results. I respect their coach a lot. They have more work behind them with the same coach. There’s a lot to fear. One thing to respect is that they are unbeaten despite often going behind.

“In addition to being strong and playing well, they have awareness and tenacity even until the final minutes. It’s one more thing that I fear and respect about them, but there are many things about us. Sometimes in the final minutes, we score, but it also depends on our mental and physical strength.

“They have a free mind, and they want to be champions in Europe too. The numbers say they have changed, but just looking at it is a good memory. I hope it bothers them, but we are focusing on this match. We know they are stronger.”

 To reach this stage, Roma have been a team reborn since De Rossi took over from Jose Mourinho back in January. They defeated Milan 3-1 on aggregate, while Leverkusen beat West Ham United 3-1 on aggregate.

Both teams played out a goalless draw the last time they met, in a Europa League semi-final match at BayArena.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen are looking for their first win in encounters between the two clubs since October 2015, having not beaten Roma in their last four matches, with Roma winning two and as many stalemated.

Source Punch Ng

Posted May 2, 2024

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