AS ROMA defender Chris Smalling has admitted that Bayer Leverkusen surprised them by not featuring Victor Boniface during their UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday night.
Without Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Boniface, Leverkusen played with a false nine and defeated Roma 2-0 in Italy.
Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich struck in each half to give Leverkusen a commanding lead ahead of next week’s return leg in Germany, and Smalling confessed that Xabi Alonso’s plans befuddled the hosts.
“We were expecting them to play with one of their No.9’s (Boniface, Patrik Schick),” former Manchester United centre-back Smalling said.
“It was a formation that caused us a few issues. [It was a headache with the false 9], they make you think whether you want to go and are looking to go in behind [themselves], they caused us problems.”
With the win, Leverkusen extended their remarkable unbeaten run in all competitions to 47 matches this season in a campaign that has seen them win their first-ever Bundesliga title.
Boniface, who has registered 18 goals and 10 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions this season, and Schick did not even get off the bench as Leverkusen eased to victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
