LEVERKUSEN: Bayer Leverkusen staged a late comeback to move into the Europa League final with a 2-2 draw at home against AS Roma on Thursday to win 4-2 on aggregate as they set the longest unbeaten run in all competitions including European matches.
Leverkusen, who will meet Atalanta in the final, played their 49th match without defeat to surpass Benfica’s record set from 1963–65 but they had to battle for the second leg draw.
Roma took the lead with a penalty from Leandro Paredes just before halftime after Jonathan Tah fouled Sardar Azmoun. Paredes scored with another spotkick in the 66th minute after Adam Hlozek’s handball.
With eight minutes remaining, a Leverkusen corner confused the visiting defence, leading to Gianluca Mancini inadvertently deflecting the ball into his own net at the far post.
Joseph Stanisic then secured Leverkusen’s place in the record books deep into stoppage time with the equaliser after a skilful move into the box.