This Europa League semi-final return was on course to be the match of Bayer Leverkusen’s first defeat this season. But this team is definitely made of a soul that no other has and has managed to turn the situation around once again. Thanks to a goal from Stanisic at the very end of the match, Xabi Alonso’s men equalized against a Roma who led the score until the 82nd minute.
From the first minutes, Daniele De Rossi’s men showed their intentions. Although trailing at kick-off, they had every intention of turning things around and spoiling the party at the BayArena. In the 4th minute, Lukaku receives a long ball from Pellegrini but pushes it too much, allowing Kovar to grab the leather. With a lot of commitment, sometimes too much, the Romans shook Leverkusen and the Germans had to wait until the 16th minute to get their first opportunity through Palacios.
Svilar first imperial in his cages
But the Argentinian stumbles on a Mile Svilar of great evenings. Throughout the first period, the Serbian goalkeeper disgusted the Bayer attackers who took up residence in the Roman area. And when the Roma goalkeeper thinks of conceding a goal, his defenders watch out, like Mancini when he intervenes on Hlozek who hits at the penalty spot (23rd). A few minutes later, Palacios tried his luck again from distance and found the post. The ball bounces off Svilar’s back but does not enter his goal.
After a double save from Svilar, first on Amine Adli, then on Adam Hlozek, allowing the Romans to stay afloat (39th), Roma obtained a penalty. On a cross from Angelino, Jonathan Tah fouls Azmoun, although he is very far from the ball. The German central defender received the sixth yellow card of this decidedly very tense first period. Facing Svilar, Leandro Paredes hits his penalty in the middle and gives his team the advantage, against the run of play (43rd).
Ex-Parisian Leandro Paredes opened the scoring for Roma and did it again a few minutes later. DeFodi Images / Icon Sport
Enough to over-motivate Roma, who created two new chances just before the break and returned to the locker room in front, despite 17 strikes from Xabi Alonso’s men. After the break, the Romans understood that they could make a big move, when on the other side, we did not take advantage of the opportunities. In the 58th minute, Hofman was served by Frimpong after a counter-attack and came up against Slivar.
A gag goal to revive Leverkusen
Five minutes later, Hlozek touched the ball with his hand in the area and after a glance at the VAR, referee Danny Makkelie whistled a second penalty for AS Roma. Leandro Paredes, again, scored his double and allowed his team to come back to two goals in both matches. Lacking success, like Adli in the 74th, Leverkusen cannot do it. But true to its reputation, the German club turned the situation around again when in the 81st minute, Mancini received Grimaldo’s corner kick on the face. Certainly surprised by the error of his hitherto impeccable goalkeeper, he put the ball in the cages.
In extreme tension, pushing the unusual replacement Florian Wirtz to go off his hinges, Bayer knew they qualified with this score although in favor of Roma. A clever lob from Patrick Schick in added time could have allowed Leverkusen to snatch a draw and avoid suffering their first defeat of the season. But salvation will come from another replacement. A strike from Jan Stanisic in the 97th minute – Bayer’s 17th goal beyond normal time this season! – allows the BayArena to exult: Bayer has qualified for the final and has still not lost, for the 49th time in a row this season. New record !
