Leverkusen continue their unbeaten run as they come from behind in the Europa League semifinals against AS Roma to secure the final ticket for Dublin against Atalanta.
Giaorossi had benefitted from two sportkicks to restore parity on aggregate but were ousted by the newly crowned Bundesliga champions 4-2 on aggregate.
The Serie A team went into the game on the back of a 2-0 loss at the Stadio Olimpico last Thursday, knowing two clear goals would set them on the path of redemption, but two late goals from the host stopped them from playing in two consecutive Europa League finals.
Xabi Alonso side remains unbeaten throughout the season, and the record continues as they prepare for the finals in Dublin against Le Dea, defeating Olympique Marseille in the other semifinal clash.
The first real chance went the way of the host as Exequiel Palacios stung Mile Svilar’s gloves after a give-and-go on the edge of the area while Matej Kovar smothered Pellegrini’s header.
Roma had to make a quick substitution as Leonardo Spinazzola, who was in the back three, went down with a muscular problem and was replaced by Nicola Zalewski.
Gianluca Mancini blocked Adam Hlozek’s tap-in and was called to action when he pushed a Hlozek free-kick over the bar.
Palacios almost scored the opener, but his finish squirmed through a sea of legs to bounce off the inside of the upright, and Evan Ndicka was quick to clear before anyone could get the tap-in.
Svilar again fingertipped a Jeremie Frimpong curler around the post and then made a desperate double save on Amine Adli’s strike and the Hlozek follow-up.
Roma got lucky as they were struggling to contain their opponent. They were awarded a penalty after Jonathan Tah dragged Azmoun down in the box.
Leandro Paredes stepped up and converted down the middle to halve the deficit on aggregate.
The goal gave Roma life a few moments later as Zalewski whipped in a cross from the right, and Azmoun was inches away from getting his toes to it, but Edmond Tapsoba risked an own goal to clear.
Kovar saved the Azmoun snapshot and made a tough one-handed save on the Stephan El Shaarawy curler.
Leverkusen countered from the corner, but Svilar rushed out to deny Hofmann.
Roma got a lifeline through another penalty through the VAR as Hlozek held up his hand near his face and, with his fingertips, pushed away a glancing Cristante corner. Paredes again converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to bring the tie all square.
It was the turn of hardworking Leverkusen to be rewarded as Svilar misjudged the flight of the Grimaldo corner, and the ball bounced in off Mancini at the back post for an own goal.
As Roma threw everything forward and ran huge risks on the counter-attack, they got away with one when a Patrik Schick lob went off target.
Stanisic cut inside from the right and bent a left-foot finish into the far bottom corner to win the game 4-2 on aggregate.
Written by Oladipupo Mojeed
