Leverkusen to the Europa League final – overtime goals extended their unbeaten streak to 49 games

Leverkusen came back from 0-2 to 2-2 in the return match against Roma. It resulted in the final in the Europa League and saved a long streak without defeat.

Seven minutes into extra time, Josip Stanisic scored the equalizing goal, which means that Leverkusen are unbeaten in 49 straight games in various tournaments.

– It was very well deserved. Look at all the chances we had in the game. We are very happy with the mentality that allowed us to come back against a big team. There was a lot of will, and we didn’t give up even though we were leading overall. We wanted to keep the streak of unbeaten games, because we are proud of it, said Granit Xhaka to TNT Sports.

It was the Swiss who played Stanisic for the equalizing goal.

49 matches unbeaten is a new record for a European top league team in various tournaments since the European Cups were introduced. Benfica had the old record of 48, set in the period December 1963 to February 1965.

Xabi Alonso’s men have not lost a match of significance since May 27 last year. It’s almost a year ago, but the team has been out badly many times. It was the fourth time in the last six games that Leverkusen scored an equalizer in the 89th minute or later.

Leverkusen looked set to accept defeat en route to the club’s first European final in 22 years. An own goal by Gianluca Mancini in the 83rd minute produced the 1-2 reduction that took the German hosts into the lead on aggregate.

Double penalty

A week ago, Leverkusen won 2-0 in Italy, but made it far more exciting for themselves in front of their own crowd. Leandro Paredes scored both of Roma’s goals from the penalty spot.

Roma were driven hard before Paredes’ goal in the 43rd minute, but goalkeeper Mile Svilar stalled Leverkusen’s attack.

The first penalty came when Sardar Azmoun was held in the suit and went over. The Iranian is in Rome on loan from Leverkusen.

Penalty number two was awarded after a VAR check. It was assessed that Adam Hlozek had a punishable hand.

In the final, Leverkusen will face another Italian opponent in the form of Atalanta. That match will be played in Dublin on May 22.

Leverkusen are in position to complete a title treble. The Bundesliga has already been won, and the team is the favorite in the German cup final against Kaiserslautern from level two.

Can break title drought

Atalanta took care of Marseille 3-0 on their own turf on Thursday. In just under two weeks, the club will be playing for its first European trophy.

Ademola Lookman and Matteo Ruggeri became the Bergamo team’s heroes in the second leg. The first meeting in France ended 1-1.

Lookman fired Atalanta into the lead after half an hour. The shot from about 20 meters had a significant change of direction before the ball was in the net.

Shortly after the break, Ruggeri doubled his lead with a powerful finish inside the Marseille box. Five minutes into overtime, El Bilal Touré made it 3-0.

In the quarter-finals, Atalanta took a clear 3-1 victory over Liverpool over two games. The club has not won a major title since becoming Italian Cup champions in 1963.