Europa League, semi-final second leg, Leverkusen 2-2 Roma (agg. 4-2), insatiable Bayer | UEFA Europa League

Bayer Leverkusen completed another crazy comeback by grabbing an equalizer late in stoppage time to not only confirm their place in the UEFA Europa League final, but above all remain unbeaten this season. The German champions face Atalanta on May 22 in Dublin.

The match, the Bayer brand

Roma started with a bang and created the first chances, including one from Romelu Lukaku that Matěj Kovář had to clear off his line. But the best chance remained in Leverkusen’s favor when Exequiel Palacios sent a shot that hit the post and the back of Mile Svilar before being cleared.

The visitors looked to capitalize on every situation and got their chance when Jonathan Tah brought down Sardar Azmoun, who was playing against his home club. Leandro Paredes converted the ensuing penalty to halve his team’s deficit before the break

Leverkusen increased the pressure from the restart and took their number of attempts on goal to more than 20, but it was Roma who struck again, and once again from the penalty spot. This time Adam Hložek was penalized for a handball and Paredes ended up restoring parity.

The Romans looked well on their way to taking down the German champions for the first time this season and taking extra time. But Leverkusen came back thanks to an own goal from Gianluca Mancini. Grimaldo’s deep corner eluded everyone except the defender, who saw the ball bounce off him into the net.

Roma had to score again, but Leverkusen kept up the pressure. And as often this season, it came back to the wire. Josip Stanišić entered the box, cut in and placed an unstoppable strike into the side netting to extend his team’s unbeaten run to 49 games and secure a place in Dublin forever.

Reactions

Daniele De Rossi, AS Roma coach
Leverkusen played well, but when you come so close to a miracle, knowing that nobody has won here and you restart the game with an unfortunate own goal, it hurts.

Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen coach
We are happy to be in the final. We will therefore play two finals in one week. We showed a lot of character today after their second goal. I looked my players in the eyes after the game and saw that they wanted more. We still have the opportunity to win three titles. And my boys deserve these three titles.

In statistics

• Leverkusen remain unbeaten in 49 games this season in all competitions, having won 40 and drawn 9.
• The German club have won 10 of their last 13 Europa League matches (3 draws)
• Leverkusen are unbeaten at home in Europe in 9 games (W7 D2)
• Leverkusen have scored 31 goals in 12 Europa League games this season. The club’s best European tally is 32, in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League.

Compounded

Leverkusen: Kovář; Frimpong (Stanišić 90), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Xhaka, Palacios; Adli, Hofmann (Wirtz 81), Grimaldo (Kosounou 90); Hložek (Schick 74)

Rome: Sleepy; Mancini, Spinazzola (Zalewski 21), N’Dicka, Angeliño (Smalling 81); Pellegrini (Abraham 81), Paredes, Cristante; Azmoun (Bove 72), Lukaku, El Shaarawy

Destination: Dublin

Sports file via Getty Images

Leverkusen will meet Atalanta in the final in Dublin on May 22.