Leverkusen 2-2 Roma (agg: 4-2): Alonso's men leave it late to seal final spot

Leverkusen mounted a late comeback to stretch their unbeaten run to 49 games and seal a place in their first European final in 22 years, a 2-2 draw earning a 4-2 aggregate victory over Roma in their UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg. They will face another Italian side, Atalanta, in the decider in Dublin on 22 May.

Match in brief: Hosts battle back to edge through

Gianluca Mancini's own goal swung momentum back the way of the German championsUEFA via Getty Images

Roma started brightly and made the game's first openings, including one from Romelu Lukaku which required Matěj Kovář to come off his line quickly and block. Otherwise, it was Leverkusen who had the better openings for much of the opening period but the closest they came was through Exequiel Palacios, whose shot hit the post and Mile Svilar's back before the ball was scrambled clear.

The visitors sought to exploit the missed opportunities and were given their chance when Jonathan Tah brought down Sardar Azmoun, playing against his parent club. Leandro Paredes sent the resulting penalty down the middle to cut his team's aggregate deficit in half going into the break.

Leandro Paredes scores his first penalty to put Roma ahead in GermanyGetty Images

Leverkusen turned up the pressure after the restart, taking their number of attempts on goal beyond 20, but it was Roma who struck again – and from the spot once more. This time Adam Hložek was penalised for handball, with Paredes finishing well again to restore overall parity.

The away side barely threatened a third and, instead, it was Leverkusen who struck next – albeit thanks to an own goal from Gianluca Mancini. Grimaldo's deep corner evaded everyone as it came in but for the defender, who saw the ball bounce off him into the net.

With Roma piling forward in a bid to force extra time, Leverkusen sliced through their defence in the closing stages, Josip Stanišić cutting inside to fire in and make it 49 games unbeaten – and seal his side's place in Dublin.

Amine Adli wheels away in celebration after an own goal from Gianluca Mancini (right)Getty Images

Matthias Rötters, match reporter

"After the Werkself's 2-0 win in Rome, the visitors did well as they managed to level out the first-leg result with two penalties. Bayer then went on the offensive and pressed for a way back ahead, getting it through Mancini's own goal then that Stanišić strike. The ticket to the final is theirs and their dream of a trophy treble this season is still very much alive!"

Reaction 

Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen coach: “We're happy to be in the final. We'll play two finals in a week as a result. We showed great character today after their second goal. I looked my players in the eye afterwards and saw that they wanted more. We still have the chance to win three titles. And my boys deserve all three titles.”

Daniele De Rossi, Roma coach: "Leverkusen played well, but when you take it back and come close to a miracle knowing that no one won here, then you find yourself reopening the tie with an unlucky own goal... it hurts."

Josip Stanišić, Leverkusen defender: "I don't think my substitution was planned so that I could get involved in the attack, but I saw that there was space and I also knew that the players might be a bit tired, that they wouldn't be able to make every metre. Granit (Xhaka), of course, also saw me really well. The rest was just a great goal and a great feeling to make it 2-2 at the end and not lose."

Leverkusen's players bask in the glory of their late comeback which knocked Roma outAFP via Getty Images

Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roma captain: “It's hard to say anything now, we knew it was complicated because of how the first leg ended and because they are a very good team. We tried till the end, our fans believed as we did and we came close. Leverkusen are strong."

Granit Xhaka, Leverkusen midfielder: "It's pure goosebumps! You dream of an atmosphere like this. You dream of games like this. As a kid, you want to be in these games and then when you equalise just before the end and get to the final, it's incredible. We will definitely enjoy this night now."

Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen team remain unbeaten in 49 games across all competitions this season after their late comebackAFP via Getty Images

Key stats

• Leverkusen remain unbeaten in 49 matches across all competitions this season, winning 40 and drawing the other nine.
• The German club have won ten and drawn three of their last 13 Europa League matches.
• Leverkusen are unbeaten in nine home European games (W7 D2).
• Alonso's side won all their six home matches in the Europa League this season.
• Leverkusen have scored 31 goals in their 12 Europa League matches this season; their highest total in a single campaign in UEFA competition is 32, in the 2001/02 Champions League.
• Roma had won their last 11 UEFA competition two-legged ties before this defeat.
• The Giallorossi have lost just two of their last 11 away matches in all competitions (W5 D4).

Line-ups

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

Destination: Dublin

Sportsfile via Getty Images

Leverkusen are the nominal away team as they take on Atalanta in the final in Dublin on 22 May.