Bayer Leverkusen staged a surprising late comeback to maneuver into the Europa League closing with a 2-2 draw at residence towards Roma as they gained 4-2 on mixture and set the longest unbeaten run in all competitions together with European matches.
Bundesliga champions Leverkusen, who’ve additionally reached this month’s German Cup closing as they chase a treble, performed their forty ninth match with out defeat to surpass Benfica’s report set from 1963-65 however they needed to battle for the second leg draw.
Xabi Alonso’s facet, who’ve 40 wins of their unbeaten run, will face Italian facet Atalanta within the Could 22 closing in Dublin. It is going to be a 3rd European closing for Leverkusen, who gained their solely continental title once they lifted the UEFA Cup in 1988 and misplaced within the 2002 Champions League showpiece.
Roma knew they’d a mountain to climb after dropping the primary leg 2-0 at residence however they remained composed in an evenly contested match during which Leverkusen step by step seized management.
Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios struck the submit simply earlier than halftime, with the rebound deflecting off Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar’s again, however Evan Ndicka cleared the hazard. Svilar then made one other acrobatic save simply earlier than the break, denying Amine Adli after which blocking the rebound.
Regardless of Leverkusen’s strain Roma took the lead with a penalty from Leandro Paredes simply earlier than halftime after Jonathan Tah fouled Sardar Azmoun. Paredes scored with one other spot kick within the 66th minute after Adam Hlozek dealt with.
With eight minutes remaining, a Leverkusen nook confused the visiting defence, together with the till then glorious Svilar, resulting in defender Gianluca Mancini inadvertently deflecting the ball into his personal web on the far submit.
Late substitute Joseph Stanisic then secured Leverkusen’s place within the report books deep into stoppage time with the equaliser after a skilful transfer into the field to thrill the ecstatic residence followers and go away battling Roma distraught.
Within the closing in Dublin on Could 22 they are going to tackle Atalanta, who eased to a 3-0 victory over Marseille for a 4-1 mixture win to succeed in their first European showpiece.
Ademola Lookman put the Italians forward on the half-hour mark, Matteo Ruggeri made it two seven minutes after half-time and El Bilal Toure added a 3rd in harm time.
