Bayer Leverkusen makes a strong comeback to reach the Europa League final, set an unbeaten record
Bayer Leverkusen staged a strong comeback on Thursday night to secure their place in the Europa League final for the last time. Despite trailing by 2-0, a late surge saw them level the night 2-2 and win 4-2 on aggregate. This win now not only sends them into the final but also extends their unbeaten run in all competitions to a record 49 games.
Leverkusen, already at the very bottom of the German Cup and chasing an extraordinary treble, faced an uncertain role in front of the hosts. Needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg, Roma surged ahead thanks to penalties converted by Leandro Paredes. With the score 2-0 and minutes to go, it looked as if Roma could stage a first-class comeback.
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However, Leverkusen refused to give up. There was a glimmer of hope in the 82nd minute as a corner resulted in an own goal past Roma defender Gianluca Mancini. This unexpected twist re-ignited the home crowd and the Leverkusen players. With momentum firmly on their side, they pushed for an equalizer.
Deep into stoppage time, their endurance paid off. Substitute Joseph Stanisic, brought on for a late scramble, emerged as the inept hero. He weaved his way through the Roma defense and slotted the ball home, sending the BayArena straight into a frenzy. This dramatic late goal not only secured their best ever run to the final, but also saw them break the record for the longest unbeaten run in all competitions, previously held by Benfica (1963–65).
🤯👏 49 GAMES UNBEATEN — BAYER LEVERKUSEN AND XABI ALONSO! WOW!
It's really a historic comeback vs Roma, as it's now the the longest unbeaten run since the introduction of UEFA club competitions. pic.twitter.com/QkUmGJzTHB
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 9, 2024
Bayer Leverkusen captain Xhaka reflects on an epic night
Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka could not hide his delight after the suit. “For the mentality we showed again today against a big group, to come back like that again and go all the way to the end,” he told TNT Sports. “Today we are more than happy. You can see the desire from the group, we didn’t want to go down gradually. We wanted to achieve another goal of remaining unbeaten, now 49 times. We are happy with that.”
Xhaka also talked about Roma’s overall performance, stating: “Roma are a group who enjoy a lot and do things thoroughly, but I suppose in the two video games, the higher crew went to the last.” Now Leverkusen will set their sights on the Europa League for the very last time on May 22 in Dublin, where they may face Atalanta. That could be 3rd of Leverkusen’s European side, who aim to add another trophy to their cabinet alongside their 1988 UEFA Cup win.
While Leverkusen are enjoying their historic night, Roma are left to fend for themselves with missed opportunities. Roma manager Daniele De Rossi mentioned a valiant effort by his crew. “It became a heroic performance but Leverkusen are a really strong group,” he told Sky Sports Italia. “I thought our performances in each round were accurate. We didn’t have enough shots on goal and on occasion which can make the difference, but the players were exceptional.”
This pulsating stumble showcased the resilience and passion of both teams. While Leverkusen can now chase a historic treble and etch their call further into European football history, Roma should look forward to any further chance to prove their mettle at continental level.
