Europa League semi-final wrap: Late Late Leverkusen show books Dublin final against Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen did what Bayer Leverkusen do and scored late on to not only book a place in the Europa League Final in Dublin later this month but also keep their season long 49 game unbeaten streak going.

The nearly-crowned German champions came from 2-0 down at home to Roma to earn a second leg 2-2 draw and a 4-2 aggregate win.

Two Leandro Parades penalties had given the Serie A side a lead but as Leverkusen have done all season they conjured up goals late on to save the day.

An own goal eight minutes from time from Gianluca Mancini put Xabi Alonso side’s 3-2 up in the tie but still facing into their first defeat of the season.

However, Granit Xhaka provided the assist for Josip Stanisic to score in the seventh minute of injury time to see the second leg end in a 2-2 draw.

Alonso speaking to UEFA.com said: “We showed great character today after their second goal. I looked my players in the eye afterwards and saw that they wanted more.”

His team have won 40 games and drawn nine so far this season. They have won ten and drawn three of their last 13 Europa League matches.

Leverkusen: Kovář; Frimpong (Stanišić 90), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Xhaka, Palacios; Adli, Hofmann (Wirtz 81), Grimaldo (Kossounou 90); Hložek (Schick 74)

Roma: Svilar; Mancini, Spinazzola (Zalewski 21), N'Dicka, Angeliño (Smalling 81); Pellegrini (Abraham 81), Paredes, Cristante; Azmoun (Bove 72), Lukaku, El Shaarawy

In the other semi-final, Atlanta defeated Marseille 3-0 to give them a 4-1 aggregate win and a place in their first European final. Goals from Ademola Lookman, Matteo Ruggeri and El Bilal Toure sealed the win. 

Atalanta: Musso; De Roon, Hien, Gjimshiti; Zappacosta (Hateboer 76), Koopmeiners, Éderson (Scalvini 55), Ruggeri; De Ketelaere (Pašalić 61), Scamacca (Miranchuk 55), Lookman (Toure 76)

Marseille: Pau López; Mbemba (Ounahi 59), Gigot, Balerdi, Merlin (Henrique 72); Clauss (Moumbagna 72), Veretout, Kondogbia; Ndiaye (Sarr 59), Aubameyang, Harit (Correa 84)

Atalanta will be the nominal home team when they take on Leverkusen in the final in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 22 May.

Olympiacos will face Fiorentina in Athens Europa Conference League Final - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/mGlDocrDIj

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) May 9, 2024