Bayer Leverkusen are still undefeated this season.
Winners 2-0 in the first leg in Rome, Granit Xhaka and his teammates snatched a 2-2 draw against AS Roma in the semi-final second leg of the Europa League. They will face Atalanta in the final on Wednesday May 22 in Dublin.
The ‘Werkself’ came a long way before extending their unbeaten streak to 49 matches (40 wins, 9 draws). Trailing 2-0 after Leandro Paredes converted two penalties (43rd, 66th), Leverkusen snatched qualification in the 83rd then a draw in the… 97th thanks to a goal from Stanisic and an assist from Xhaka.
Bayer, dominant but ineffective until 0-2, took advantage of a blunder by the opposing goalkeeper to reduce the score on an autogoal. Imperial until then, Mile Svilar indeed ‘hole’ on an aerial exit following a corner. Roma then played their part, giving in at the end of stoppage time.
A first for Atalanta
Leverkusen, who have scored more than 25% of their goals in the last quarter of an hour this season, however, stole nothing. The German club will therefore experience the third European final in its history, after its coronation in the UEFA Cup in 1988 and its defeat in the 2002 Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Atalanta, for its part, will play its first final on the continental scene. The Bergamasques beat OM 3-0 in a return match which they clearly dominated, after drawing 1-1 at the Vélodrome a week earlier.
Olympiacos in Conference League final
Qualified since the day before, Fiorentina also knows its opponent for the Conference League final. La Viola will face Olympiacos Piraeus, who beat Aston Villa for a second time in the other semi-final (2-0, 4-2 in the first leg).
Olympiacos, who were able to count on a fiery Ayoun El Kaabi (five goals in total in the semi-final!), are simply the second Greek team to reach a European final after Panathinaikos in 1970/71. He will play virtually at home in the final, which is scheduled for May 29 at the Agia Sofia stadium in Athens.
/ATS
