Bayer Leverkusen's Attacking Starlets Face Roma Block Chasing 'Great Goal' In Europe

Bayer Leverkusen host Roma on Thursday knowing their way to the Europa League final goes through Jose Mourinho's expertly parked bus.  Mourinho's Roma hold a narrow 1-0 lead heading into the second leg of their semi-final tie, having blunted Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso's attacking riches in Rome.  Roma held Leverkusen scoreless for the first time in this Europa League campaign.

Coming into that match, Leverkusen had scored 14 times in six games in the competition this season, with the goals coming from nine different players.

Leverkusen's revival from the relegation spots to European trophy candidates under Alonso has been driven by the side's youthful array of attacking talent.

Pulling the strings in the middle is 20-year-old Florian Wirtz, one of the future stars of German football, who has three goals and two assists in seven Europa League matches this season.

Alongside Wirtz are full back Jeremie Frimpong, 22, forward Moussa Diaby, 23, winger Amine Adli, 23, striker Adam Hlozek, 20 and World Cup-winning midfielder Exequiel Palacios, 24.

With several of Europe's top clubs circling, both for the players and for Alonso himself, Leverkusen -- with only two major trophies in club history -- know how rare and important this opportunity will be.

- A 'great goal' -

Leverkusen have a history of producing excellent players but know better than most how quickly the best and brightest can be tempted to Europe's biggest destinations.

After losing the 2002 Champions League final 2-1 to Real Madrid, along with defeat in the German Cup final and being runners up in the league in the same season, Leverkusen lost several stars including Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Ballack and Lucio.

More recently, Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt and