Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 AS Roma (May 9, 2024) Game Analysis

Bayer Leverkusen staged a shocking late comeback to maneuver into the Europa League ultimate with a 2-2 draw at house in opposition to AS Roma on Thursday 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 ultimate 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.

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Xabi Alonso’s facet, who’ve 40 wins of their unbeaten run, will face Italian facet Atalanta within the Could 22 ultimate in Dublin.

It is going to be a 3rd European ultimate for Leverkusen, who gained their solely continental title once they lifted the UEFA Cup in 1988 and misplaced within the 2002 Champions League showpiece.

“For the mentality we confirmed once more at this time in opposition to an enormous staff to come back again like this and undergo to the ultimate. We’re very happy at this time,” stated Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka. “You see the will from the staff, we did not wish to decelerate. We wished to attain the subsequent aim to maintain going unbeaten, 49 instances now. We’re pleased with it.

“Roma is a staff that has quite a lot of expertise they usually do issues very nicely however I believe over two video games the higher staff has gone to the ultimate.”

Roma knew that they had a mountain to climb after shedding the primary leg 2-0 at house, however they remained composed in an evenly contested match through which Leverkusen steadily seized management.

Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios struck the submit simply earlier than half-time, 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 smothering the rebound.

Regardless of Leverkusen’s stress, Roma took the lead with a penalty from Leandro Paredes simply earlier than half-time after Jonathan Tah fouled Sardar Azmoun. Paredes scored with one other spot kick within the 66th minute after Adam Hlozek dealt with the ball within the space.

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 internet 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 please the ecstatic house followers and depart battling Roma distraught.

“It was a heroic efficiency however Leverkusen are a extremely robust staff,” Roma boss Daniele De Rossi advised Sky Sports activities Italia. “I assumed our performances in each legs have been good. We did not have sufficient pictures on aim and generally that may make the distinction, however the gamers have been unimaginable.”

The late aim by Leverkusen was the membership’s eighth game-tying strike within the ultimate 5 minutes this season, twice as many as every other staff in Europe’s top-5 leagues in all competitions.