By Melody Gross 
Bayer Leverkusen were one step away from losing for the first time this season, but after 49 games, the team remained unbeaten and reached the Europa League final! Furthermore, the Germans broke Benfica's European record in the 1960s.
The German champion, who was two goals ahead of Olimpico, equalized with a goal in the 90th + 7th minute, against Roma (2-2), in the first leg of the semi-final.
The “Giallorossi” started better, looking to make up for the loss, but the “Pharmacists” quickly took control of the match and began to create difficulties for Daniele De Rossi’s team.
Former Benfica player Mile Svilar, who was again in the starting lineup, with Rui Patricio (and Renato Sanchez) on the bench, made a series of saves and tried to prevent Leverkusen from scoring as much as possible, who collected scoring chances in the match. The first half.
However, against the run of play, it was Roma who scored the goal. Jonathan Tah, who was one of the best central defenders of the European season, made a mistake when he brought down Azmoun in the area and paved the way for a penalty kick that Paredes converted accurately (43m).
Roma, who relied on the direct play of strikers Azmoun and Romelu Lukaku – Paulo Dybala was limited and did not leave the bench – again started well in the second half and managed to equalize in the 66th minute, again from a penalty kick, after a foul. Hand on the ball detected by VAR.
Paredes took charge of imposing the maximum penalty and did so again in flawless fashion.
Xabi Alonso, who made some changes to the team, starting with goalkeeping, brought on Patrik Schick and Wirtz to gain more strength in attack and Leverkusen was able to score.
In the 82nd minute, Grimaldo took a corner kick, and Svilar, who until then had been one of the game's most prominent players, passed it poorly between the posts and surprised Mancini with the ball, scoring an own goal.
Mancini's misfortune is Leverkusen's goal 🍿#sporttvportugal #EUROPAnaSPORTTV #European League #BayerLeverkusen #ASROMA pic.twitter.com/VGUdngGEUP
– Sports TV (@sporttvportugal)
May 9, 2024
In stoppage time, Roma threw everything forward, but left plenty of space for the Germans to score. And so it happened in the last minute of stoppage time, thanks to a single pass from Stanisic, one of the other players on the bench.
Stanisic after the final whistle 🤯#sporttvportugal #EUROPAnaSPORTTV #European League #BayerLeverkusen #ASROMA pic.twitter.com/mPJIlKptz2
– Sports TV (@sporttvportugal)
May 9, 2024
In the final, Leverkusen will face Atalanta, which ousted Marseille.