May 10th 2024.
It was a thrilling and emotional night for Bayer Leverkusen as they faced off against Roma in the Europa League semifinals on Thursday. The German team had a lot riding on this match, as they aimed to secure a spot in the final and continue their quest for a treble. And, in the most dramatic fashion, they managed to do just that.
The game was tense from the start, with both teams fighting hard for the win. But it was Roma who struck first, with two penalties from Leandro Paredes putting them up 2-0 on the night and even on aggregate. It seemed like Leverkusen's unbeaten streak of 49 matches was in serious jeopardy.
But then, with just eight minutes left on the clock, Leverkusen's luck seemed to turn. An own goal from Roma's Gianluca Mancini gave them a glimmer of hope, and substitute Josip Stanišic's late goal in stoppage time sealed the deal. With a 2-2 draw, Leverkusen advanced to the final with a 4-2 aggregate score.
The team was ecstatic, and rightly so. They had fought hard and come back from the brink of defeat to keep their unbeaten record intact. This victory also meant that they would be facing another Italian team, Atalanta, in the final on May 22nd in Dublin. It was a dream come true for the players, as Granit Xhaka expressed in an interview with German television RTL.
Xhaka described the atmosphere in the stadium as "pure goosebumps" and spoke of how he had always dreamed of playing in such important matches. And to score the equalizer just before the final whistle and secure their place in the final was an indescribable feeling for the team.
Leverkusen's unbeaten record was almost shattered in the dying moments of the game, but they managed to hold on and continue their impressive season under coach Xabi Alonso. They had already won the Bundesliga title and secured a spot in the German Cup final, and now they were on their way to the Europa League final.
This was not the first time Leverkusen had pulled off a dramatic comeback in the Europa League knockout stages. They had also come back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half on two previous occasions. And this time, it was especially impressive as they were facing a tough opponent like Roma, who had lost the first leg of the semifinals.
Roma knew they had a difficult task ahead of them, and their star player Paulo Dybala was only fit enough for a spot on the bench due to an injury sustained in their previous match against Juventus. Leverkusen, on the other hand, had several chances to secure the win in the first half, but it was not until the second half that they finally managed to find the back of the net.
It was a nerve-wracking game for both teams, with Roma awarded two penalties and Leverkusen desperately trying to hold on to their unbeaten record. But in the end, it was Leverkusen who emerged victorious, with a late goal securing their spot in the final.
Meanwhile, in the third-tier Europa Conference League, Atalanta had their own reasons to celebrate as they secured their first-ever spot in a European final. After defeating Liverpool in the quarterfinals, they dominated former European champions Marseille in the semifinals.
In a match filled with chances, Ademola Lookman opened the scoring for Atalanta in the second leg with a deflected shot, and Matteo Ruggeri doubled their lead in the second half. Substitute El Bilal Toure sealed the deal for them in stoppage time, securing a 3-0 victory and a spot in the final.
Their opponents will be last year's runner-up, Fiorentina, who advanced to the final of the Europa Conference League after holding Club Brugge to a 1-1 draw in Belgium. This will be their second consecutive final in this competition, having lost to West Ham last year.
In the Greek capital, Olympiakos also secured their spot in the final of the Europa Conference League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. After winning the first leg 4-2, they advanced with a comfortable 6-2 aggregate score, becoming only the second Greek team to reach the final of a major European competition.
Their star player Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored a hat trick in the first leg, once again proved to be the difference maker with two goals in this match. On the other hand, Villa's hopes for a European final were dashed, as they were seeking their first one since their historic European Cup win in 1982.
It was a night of celebration and heartbreak, as Leverkusen and Atalanta secured their spots in the final while Roma, Marseille, and Villa fell short. The Europa League and Europa Conference League finals promise to be exciting matches, and football fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the showdown between these talented teams.
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