Leverkusen Alonso breaks historical record and reaches Europa League final | Football | Kinds of sports

Bayer Leverkusen completed their tenth comeback of the season in the final 90 minutes and extended their unbeaten run to 49 games. Stanisic scored to make it 2-2 in the 97th minute, sealing Roma’s elimination. With an aura of invincibility unusual in European football over the last half century, and having surpassed Eusebio’s Benfica’s landmark victory in 1965 by one match, Xabi Alonso’s side have reached the Europa League final in Dublin on May 22 next year. There they will meet Atalanta, who defeated Marseille with a score of 3:0.

Resentment fuels passions. Sardar Azmoun was rejected by Bayer Leverkusen after two up-and-down seasons. At the age of 28, he was loaned to Roma. The Europa League brought him back to Leverkusen like castaways swept into port by the tide. He was dressed in a strange uniform. He converted to Romanita – the religion of modern pagan Romans – and, above all, with a clearly expressed sense of revenge. There was no more active striker in all of Rome during the difficult period of the first half. As Leverkusen’s performances frightened his teammates, the Iranian was buoyed by a determination that seemed foreign to everything. This was the first shot at the local goal, and it was his action that led to a penalty.

Angeliño put up a cross that usually ends up on a billboard. The Galician crossed the midfield line and projected the ball to the far post, where Lukaku was lurking. The ball was flying when Tah grabbed the shirt of Azmoun, who went down for the penalty. Makkelie did not hesitate. The referee awarded a penalty. After 40 minutes of pursuit, the attacker found himself in a hopeless situation. Palacios made it 0:1. Leverkusen took to the pitch with a two-goal lead and the enthusiasm that has characterized them in recent months. As if inspired by an invincible belief in their abilities, guided with the same commanding feeling by Xhaka, Alonso’s team played the accordion from zone to zone. In every transition, he surprised his opponents with his swiftness and confidence in changing positions. The races continued from the second line. Frimpong’s deep attempts multiplied. It was Palacios who scared the novelists with a shot at the post, which almost ended up inside, bouncing off Svilar’s back. In the following minutes, the shock activated the visiting goalkeeper for the better. He stopped Frimpong’s cross, he stopped Adly’s shot, another from Hlozek, Hofmann and again from Hlozek. Roma were left in disarray when a vengeful Azmoun converted the penalty to make it 0-1.

Leverkusen returned from the break as if Xabi Alonso had convinced his players to dissuade the rebellion of Azmoun and his followers. The storm continued in front of the Svilar’s masts. But in the first period, after a corner kick, Khlozhek touched the ball with his hand, and the referee awarded a penalty again. Paredes extended Roma’s 0-2 lead and Bayer found themselves in one of those difficult situations that so many times during the season led them to seemingly wild reactions that were in fact part of the pattern. Against tired opponents, when the games begin and the second line comes off the bench – Stanisic, Odilon, Wirtz, Schick – those who should despair act as if they are playing for a familiar score. It seems rehearsed. Doublings, massive arrivals, pauses at decisive meters and successful ambushes.

Mancini made it 1:2 into his own net after a diabolical corner from Grimaldo; The 2-2 score was scored by Stanisic, a centre-back who plays Frimpong, a natural striker. It was them. It could be anyone. Leverkusen’s emotional turbine produces scorers of all stripes.

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