Rome, what a shame. Paredes deceives, but Bayer Leverkusen recovers and reaches the Europa League final against Atalanta

Leverkusen 9 May 2024 - La Rome he deludes himself, but in the end the Bayer Leverkusen deservedly snatches the pass to the final in Dublin. At the Bay Arena it ends 2-2 after the Giallorossi's double advantage, which had made the new German Champions tremble, who however, as they have always done this season, managed to come back, maintaining their unbeaten record in the season and eliminating from theEuropa League the capitols. To the double of Paredes with two penalties, they respond with the own goal Mancini and the network of Stanisic at the end to score the final 2-2, which marks the end of the hopes of Roman glory.

First half

For the Bay Arena match, Xabi Alonso largely confirms the formation from the first leg, plays in defence Hincapie in place of Stanisic, today on the bench. He plays in midfield Grimaldo on the left, with Frimpong on the right and Palacios in place of Andrich in the median next to Jaca. Only forward confirmed Judicial with Hofmann e Hlozek to complete the German trident. The Rossi instead the Giallorossi's playing system completely changes with Angelino on defense, along with N'Dicka e Mancini before Silker. In the median El Shaarawy e Spinazzola occupy the lanes, with Crystalline, Paredes e Pellegrini to make up the central belt, while the attacking couple is made up of Lukaku e Azmoun.

The challenge of Leverkusen it's very heated right from the start, with Lukaku to have after just 4 minutes the first chance to break the deadlock on the launch of Pellegrini, but the output of Journal in two halves he prevented the Roma striker from scoring. The start of Rome it is excellent and manages to put the hosts in the top ten in serious difficulty, but the Romans are unable to follow up by creating further scoring opportunities. In fact, as the minutes passed, the boys of Xabi Alonso they gain meters and begin to put pressure: at 16' it is Palacios to test the reflexes of Silker with an attempt from outside the area, but the Capitoline goalkeeper is attentive and responds presently, blocking the ball.

La Rome seems capable of responding blow for blow to the German team, after the opportunity Pellegrini in the 18th minute with a header on the sharp cross from the right, but Journal he was once again present and responded by denying the Giallorossi the opening goal. Shortly afterwards the nervousness sets in, with frimpong to want to play the ball while Spinazzola remains on the ground, a first commotion breaks out which leads to three yellow cards, directed towards Tapsoba for the Leverkusen, while in the Giallorossi they are Mancini e Pellegrini to be warned. In the middle the replacement for the physical problem of Spinazzola, in whose place he enters Zalewski.

The substitution coincides with the end of the Giallorossi's dominance and the beginning of the siege of Bayer Leverkusen to the detriment of the Giallorossi. Before Hlozek twice, finds the rebound first Mancini, then the hands of Silker from a free kick; then it is Palacios to hit the post after a beautiful left-footed shot from the edge of the area deflected by Silker, who hits the ball with his back after touching the wood, before disengaging N'Dicka. In the middle two more yellow cards received by the Giallorossi with Paredes e Zalewski ending up in the race director's notebook of villains. However, he shows no signs of stopping the pressure from the new German Champions, frimpong he turns the defenders' heads and first finds the great save of Silker to deny him the goal on the left, then looks for the assist Hlozek, but the attacker's attempt is blocked very well by Angelino.

The last five minutes of the first half began with the double miracle of Silker first on the attempt to Judicial, then of Hlozek, intervening with two great saves to save the result. It seems like the incipit of a nightmare ending, but out of nowhere there Rome find the winning opportunity to unblock the result in your favor. In the 41st minute in fact Azmoun is brought down in the penalty area by Move on the cross of Angelino, Makkelie he sees everything and decisively points to the penalty spot, warning the captain of Bayer Leverkusen. VAR confirms the field decision and does not tremble from the spot Paredes: central execution, Journal displaced and Roma took the lead at the Bay Arena, in the 43rd minute it was 0-1 for the Romans. The end of the first half was all Giallorossi-branded, with constant dribbling in the opponent's half of the pitch, without however managing to score. So after 4' of injury time the first half of the game ends, due to the away team's lead which, however, still wouldn't be enough to send the match even to extra time due to the 0-2 at the Olimpico. 

Second half

No changes at half-time, the same 22 players who finished the first half resume the match. The script is the same as at the end of the first half: the goal gave push and energy to Roma, now courageous and aggressive both in possession and without the ball. The Germans lower their center of gravity slightly and this also offers space for the insertion of midfielders, it is no coincidence that the first chance of the second half is for Crystalline, whose left foot however ends up weakly in the arms of Journal.

The Giallorossi persisted and produced two more big chances before the quarter of an hour of the second half, with Azmoun ed El Shaarawy, both attempts however defused by the saves of Journal, not very clean, but effective in saves. There Rome but he cannot allow himself the luxury of going unbalanced, because when he starts again the Leverkusen it's terrible, in the 59th minute Hofmann devours the chance of an equalizer in the three against two of the German attack, suffering the super exit of Silker, to close the mirror very well. Two minutes later it is Hlozek to take up his suggestion Hofmann, but his shot was blocked by the Giallorossi Serbian goalkeeper. 

La Rome However, he didn't give up in the 66th minute and found the goal that brought the two matches back into balance. On a corner kick in fact Hlozek clumsily hits the ball with his hand. On the field Makkelie he doesn't see, but the VAR calls him back to the on-field review, helping the Dutch whistle to retrace his steps and thus award the penalty to the Giallorossi. It still goes on the diskette Paredes, who this time crosses with his right, displacing Journal and putting the signature on Roma's 0-2, which rebalances this semi-final. 

Thus we enter the last 20 minutes with the result back in balance, with one Rome author of a monstrous performance at the Bay Arena. However, the physical price for this performance was high and in the 72nd minute he had to give in to cramps Azmoun, replaced by bove. Giallorossi responds to the change Xabi Alonso with the entry of the great ex Schick for Hlozek, the two substitutions are however interspersed with the gigantic opportunity for Judicial, who fortunately finds himself with the ball at his feet in the heart of the penalty area, but his attempt goes nowhere on the left of Silker, who remained immobile on the occasion.

La Rome she is tired, but fights stoically, The Rossi he reads the difficult moment and sends it onto the pitch Smalling and Abraham for Angelino e Pellegrini; Xabi Alonso instead he tries to rely on the talent of his number 10, i.e Florian wirtz, which he notes Hofmann. Unfortunately for the Giallorossi, the Spanish coach is right about the changes Bayer Leverkusen, because at the first corner kick Smalling e Silker they hinder each other, causing the cross to splash Grimaldo on the head of Mancini, who is unlucky and ends up putting the ball into his own goal. At the Bay Arena it's 1-2 and the Germans are back ahead in the two-legged match.

At the end of the match the Giallorossi are on their knees after having expended all their energy, the Leverkusen however, he seems to still have it and is pushing hard to maintain his unbeaten season. frimpong with 3 from the 90th minute he passes his marker and forces Silker to a super split intervention, to keep the flame of Roma hope alive. Judicial is warned and frimpong leaves the field together with Grimaldo to make room for two real defenders com Kossounou e Stanisic. The Rome he tries with courage, only with nerves and willpower, but in the end it is Stanisic to score the equalizer, which maintains the Germans' unbeaten record and sets the result at the final 2-2. The Rossi and his boys raise the white flag at the Bay Arena: the Bayer Leverkusen flies to the final of Europa League where will you find theAtalanta, the Giallorossi will now have to deal with the Orobic team to obtain the pass Champions League away fifth place in Serie A.