Football draw against AS Roma
Leverkusen is trembling its way into the final of the Europa League
As of: 01:26 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Josip Stanisic (M.) is happy with the players about his 2:2 in stoppage time
Source: AFP/INA FASSBENDER
Bayer Leverkusen is in the final of the Europa League and will face Atalanta Bergamo. A draw against AS Roma is enough for Xabi Alonso’s team. The team struck again in the final phase and avoided their first defeat of the season.
Only two finals left until the treble: After an unexpected tremor with two video penalties, Bayer Leverkusen reached a European Cup final for the third time thanks to an own goal. This means the German champions are well on their way to crowning an already historic season.
Coach Xabi Alonso’s team, which had been crowned champions for the first time since mid-April, reached the final of the Europa League with a 2-2 (0-1) draw against AS Roma. Leverkusen won the UEFA Cup in 1988. In 2002, the Rhinelanders were in the Champions League final, which they lost 2-1 to Real Madrid.
Thanks to Josip Stanisic’s late equalizer (90+7), Leverkusen’s impressive series continued, remaining unbeaten in their 49th competitive game of the season after winning 2-0 in the first leg despite being 2-0 down. Now, to cap off a remarkable season, they are contesting two finals within four days. Three days after the European final against Atalanta Bergamo in Dublin, the DFB Cup final against second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern takes place in Berlin.
Leverkusen will face Atalanta Bergamo in the final
Quelle: AFP/KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
Bayer were overwhelmingly superior, but Leandro Paredes equalized the first leg result with a foul penalty (43′) and a hand penalty (66′). Gianluca Mancini’s own goal (83′) brought Bayer to Dublin and ensured successful revenge after last year’s semi-final exit against Roma.
Wirtz just sits on the bench
Somewhat surprisingly, Florian Wirtz initially sat on the bench. After being spared from injury in Frankfurt (5-1) on Sunday, 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 Angelino, who previously played in Leipzig and Hoffenheim.
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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.
Josip Stanisic equalizes in added time
What: REUTERS
Romelu Lukaku could have had an early chance for the visitors in the fourth minute, but Leverkusen’s cup goalkeeper Matej Kovar grabbed the ball from his foot. And 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 Hlozek 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 Hlozek (39th).
Leverkusen has to worry until the end
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 ball (54′), Jonas Hofmann (59′) and Hlozek (61′) were again denied by Svilar. But for the fact that they were still leading overall, the Werkself had now moved up a bit.
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 Hlozek was still unexpected – as was Mancini’s own goal. Stanisic got the party started in the stands in added time.
