Leverkusen beat Roma on aggregate, reaches European final, extends unbeaten run
Bayer Leverkusen are through to the Europa League final after winning 4-2 on aggregate, as a stoppage-time goal from Josip Stanisic snatched a 2-2 draw at home on Thursday, May 9, extending their unbeaten run to a record 49 games.
Xabi Alonso again mixed things up tactically and made six changes including surprisingly leaving star attackers Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface and former Roma striker Patrik Schick on the bench, instead leading the line with Adam Hlozek.
In a rematch of last season’s Europa League semifinal, Roma came to Leverkusen 2-0 down after the first leg but leveled the tie up despite having little possession thanks to penalties in each half from Leandro Paredes.
With the tie heading for extra time, Alex Grimaldo curled in a corner which goalie Mile Svilar failed to catch, the ball going into the net after bouncing off Roma defender Gianluca Mancini.
Stanisic then kept Leverkusen’s stunning record of late goals alive by scoring on the counter in the seventh minute of added time, breaking Benfica’s European unbeaten record dating back to 1965.
Bundesliga champions Leverkusen will meet Atalanta, who beat Marseille 3-0 (4-1 on aggregate), in the final in Dublin on May 22 with hopes of a remarkable treble still alive.
