Bayer Leverkusen has reached the Europa League final. The Bundesliga football team, which has been champions for the first time since mid-April, made it to the final thanks to a 2-2 (0-1) win against AS Roma and will now play for another title in Dublin on May 22nd against Atalanta Bergamo from Italy. Leverkusen won the first leg in Italy 2-0. For Rome, Argentine world champion Leandro Paredes converted a foul penalty (43rd) to make it 0-1 and a hand penalty (66th) to make it 0-2. An own goal from Roman Gianluca Mancini (82′) made it 1-2 for Leverkusen and a late goal from Josip Stanišić (90’+7) in stoppage time equalized the final score at 2-2. The Bayer team has now played 49 games without defeat. Xabi Alonso’s team has thus replaced Benfica Lisbon as the European record holder. In the 1963/64 season, the Portuguese were unbeatable in 48 consecutive games.
Alonso starts without Wirtz and Andrich
Somewhat surprisingly, Florian Wirtz initially sat on the bench. After he was rested on Sunday in Frankfurt (5-1), coach Xabi Alonso announced on Wednesday that the offensive player was completely fit. The second goal scorer in the first leg, Robert Andrich, also initially sat outside. Rome coach Daniele De Rossi brought in three fresh players with Bundesliga experience: Leverkusen loanee Sardar Azmoun, ex-Frankfurt Evan N’Dicka and Angeliño, who previously played in Leipzig and Hoffenheim.
The Romans didn’t initially act with full risk, but it was still the expected heated game. The first pack formation in the 19th minute resulted in three yellow cards, two of them against Römer. After 28 minutes, two more were added.
More about: Bayer Leverkusen
German football: Germany talks about mentality, others try strategy
Bundesliga, Matchday 31 – Saturday: Bayer Leverkusen remains unbeaten
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso rejects honorary citizenship in Leverkusen
Romelu Lukaku could have had an early chance for the visitors in the fourth minute, but Leverkusen’s cup keeper Matěj Kovář grabbed the ball from his foot. After that, only Bayer actually played. Andrich representative Exequiel Palacios tested Roma keeper Mile Svilar (15th) and also hit the post (29th). Wirtz replacement Adam Hložek was blocked by Gianluca Mancini at the last second (23′). Svilar held strong for the rest against Granit Xhaka (25th), Jeremie Frimpong (32nd) and Amine Adli as well as Hložek (39th).
© ZEIT ONLINE
Newsletter
New: Finally Monday
By registering, you acknowledge the data protection declaration.
Thank you! We have sent you an email.
Check your mailbox and confirm your newsletter subscription.
15:3 shots on goal and 6:0 corners up to the 40th minute did not exactly indicate a Roman comeback. And then, out of nowhere and completely undeservedly, it was 0:1. Because Tah unnecessarily pulled his ex-colleague Azmoun’s arm in the penalty area, there was a penalty, which Paredes safely converted.
After Leverkusen’s shock was clearly evident until the break, they picked themselves up at halftime. After the change the game looked the same as before. But at first it remained the case that Bayer didn’t hit the goal. Adli narrowly missed the mark (54′), Jonas Hofmann (59′) and Hložek (61′) were again denied by Svilar. Roma now also had chances through counterattacks, Kovar had to save against Azmoun (55th) and Stephan El Shaarawy (57th). The penalty after a handball from Hložek was still unexpected – as was Mancini’s own goal. Stanišić got the party started in the stands in stoppage time.
Leverkusen remains undefeated
Leverkusen will now play two finals within four days to cap off a remarkable season. Three days after the European final on May 22nd, the DFB Cup final against second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern takes place in Berlin.
In the second semi-final, Bergamo beat the traditional French club Olympique Marseille 3-0 in the second leg. The first leg ended 1-1.
Bayer Leverkusen has reached the Europa League final. The Bundesliga football team, which has been champions for the first time since mid-April, made it to the final thanks to a 2-2 (0-1) win against AS Roma and will now play for another title in Dublin on May 22nd against Atalanta Bergamo from Italy. Leverkusen won the first leg in Italy 2-0. For Rome, Argentine world champion Leandro Paredes converted a foul penalty (43rd) to make it 0-1 and a hand penalty (66th) to make it 0-2. An own goal from Roman Gianluca Mancini (82′) made it 1-2 for Leverkusen and a late goal from Josip Stanišić (90’+7) in stoppage time equalized the final score at 2-2. The Bayer team has now played 49 games without defeat. Xabi Alonso’s team has thus replaced Benfica Lisbon as the European record holder. In the 1963/64 season, the Portuguese were unbeatable in 48 consecutive games.
