Bayer Leverkusen secured their spot in the Europa League final with a 4-2 aggregate victory, as Josip Stanisic’s stoppage-time goal secured a 2-2 draw at home, extending their unbeaten streak to a record-breaking 49 games.
In a rematch of last season’s Europa League semi-final, Roma arrived in Leverkusen trailing 2-0 from the first leg. Despite having limited possession, Roma managed to level the tie with penalties in each half converted by Leandro Paredes.
As the match seemed destined for extra time, a corner from Alex Grimaldo caused chaos in the Roma defense, with goalkeeper Mile Svilar failing to secure the ball, resulting in an own goal by Roma defender Gianluca Mancini.
In the seventh minute of added time, Stanisic capitalized on a counterattack, preserving Leverkusen’s remarkable streak of late goals and breaking Benfica’s European unbeaten record dating back to 1965.
Bundesliga champions Leverkusen will face Atalanta in the final in Dublin on May 22, keeping alive hopes of securing a remarkable treble.
Leverkusen’s coach, Alonso, made six changes to the lineup, notably leaving star attackers Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface, and former Roma striker Patrik Schick on the bench, while leading the line with Adam Hlozek. Despite the changes, Leverkusen maintained their rhythm and showcased creative, fluid movement, dominating Roma from the outset.
Roma, on the other hand, displayed a fighting spirit and attempted to unsettle the Bundesliga champions, accumulating four yellow cards within the opening 30 minutes. Exequiel Palacios was a particular target for Roma’s physicality, but the Argentinian World Cup winner almost scored after his low shot hit the post and nearly bounced in off goalkeeper Svilar’s back.
Svilar made a remarkable double save in the 38th minute, denying shots from Amine Adli and Hlozek to keep Roma at bay.
Roma sent a long ball up the other end and within moments the referee pointed to the spot, after Roma’s Bayer Leverkusen-loanee Sardar Azmoun went down in a tussle with Jonathan Tah.