Bayer Leverkusen beats Roma to reach Europa League final and extend undefeated run. football news

Bayer Leverkusen won 4-2 in the Europa League final after Josip Stanisic’s stoppage-time goal on Thursday extended their unbeaten streak to a record 49 games. In a rematch of last season’s Europa League semi-finals, Roma trailed 2–0 to Leverkusen after the first leg, but the tie was leveled despite less possession thanks to Leandro Paredes’ penalties in each half. With the tie headed for extra time, Alex Grimaldo headed in a corner, which goalkeeper Miles Swiller failed to catch, with the ball bouncing off Roma defender Gianluca Mancini and into the net.

Stanisić then scored on a counter in the seventh minute of extra time to keep Leverkusen’s late goalscoring record alive, breaking Benfica’s 1965 European unbeaten record.

“We had chances to score early and we didn’t – but we will do that in Dublin,” Leverkusen boss Alonso told RTL.

“It was a special evening. There were tense moments but it showed the personality and mentality of the team.”

“We ourselves didn’t know how we were 2-0 down,” Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said.

“It is incredible to come back against a team like this – our desire is incredible. We are in the final, we are on our way to achieving our dream and will do everything to bring the trophy back to Leverkusen.”

Bundesliga champions Leverkusen will face Atalanta in the final in Dublin on May 22 against Atalanta, who beat Marseille 3-0 (4-1 on aggregate), with hopes of a remarkable treble still alive.

Six changes for Leverkusen

Alonso again mixed things up strategically and made six changes, which surprisingly included leaving star attackers Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface and former Roma striker Patrik Schick on the bench, instead replacing him with Adam Hloczek further up the line. are.

The changes did not affect Leverkusen’s rhythm as the hosts exploded onto the pitch, arming Roma with creative, fluid movement.

Roma, in contrast, started the fightback and tried to unsettle the Bundesliga champions, picking up four yellow cards within the opening 30 minutes.

Exequiel Palacios was the target of most of Roma’s troubles, but the Argentine World Cup winner almost got revenge after 29 minutes when his low shot hit the inside of the post and came close to bouncing off the back of goalkeeper Swiller.

Swiller made a brilliant double save to block shots from Amine Adli and Hlozek on 38 minutes.

Roma sent a long ball up the other end and within moments the referee pointed to the spot as Roma’s Bayer Leverkusen-Leone Sardar Azmoun fell in a tussle with Jonathan Tah.

Palacios’ Argentina teammate Paredes sent the ball up the middle and Roma went 1–0 up and back into the tie just before half-time.

The second half started much like the first, with Leverkusen unable to establish any dominance on the scoreboard – before Roma won another spot-kick, this time through VAR for handball against Hlozek.

Paredes scored again, sending the ball in on the left side to take a two-goal lead and equalize.

Roma continued to defend their lead by repeatedly going upfield, reminiscent of their performance in last year’s semi-final at the same venue, which resulted in a 0–0 draw, and a 0–0 draw in the final. Had made a place.

Roma coach Daniele De Rossi was proud of his team and said: “We played a heroic game – they are strong. We tried but there were few shots. The boys played an incredible game.”

But with nine minutes remaining, Leverkusen earned another corner, which Grimaldo headed past goalkeeper Swiller, who collided with Chris Smalling before the ball bounced off Mancini’s face.

Roma pressed ahead, hoping to send things into extra time, but Bayern’s Lonnie Stanisic hit the Italians on the counter, allowing his teammate to sprint off the bench and keep his team’s season-long unbeaten streak intact .

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)