The Bundesliga champions maintained their long unbeaten streak in the epilogue, drawing 2-2 against Roma, to reach the continental title definition. They will face the Bergamo club, which left Marseille behind. The grand final will take place on May 22 in Dublin.
It’s not just the Champions League that has its finalists. UEFA’s second most important club tournament, the Europa League, It also determined the two contenders for the title. Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta aim for the crown, certifying their ranking this Thursday. They left Rome and Marseille respectively on the way.
The brand new Bundesliga champion, the sensation team of the season on the Old Continent, arrived with a 2-0 advantage over the Loba, obtained last week at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. If to this is added the undefeated who trailed the pharmaceutical team (48 games until the second leg of the semi-finals), there was clear favoritism towards the locals. Even though the ball belonged mainly to Leverkusen, Roma took advantage of the opening windows to reduce the gap.
At the end of the first half, a dubious penalty was awarded in favor of the Italians, due to a foul by Jonathan Tah on the Iranian Sardar Azmoun. Dutch judge Danny Makkelie did not hesitate. In the 43rd minute, Argentina’s Leandro Paredes made it 1-0. Towards the complement, the team led by Daniele De Rossi got closer to the local goal, daring to look a little more to equalize the series.
Added to this is the good work of goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who left Rui Patricio on the bench, who supported the Romans for a large part of the match. After the hour mark, a new maximum penalty gave the visit a chance. A handball from Hlozek is examined by the VAR and the penalty is finally awarded. Paredes finished again and converted again. The score was 2-2 on aggregate, which extended the match into overtime.
Even if Xabi Alonso’s face showed concern, the concrete is that the last part of the match is Leverkusen’s favorite moment, because he usually converts and thus maintains the long unbeaten streak that he has built during countryside. This time he got a dose of help. In the 82nd minute, goalkeeper Svilar made a mistake on a set ball and the game ended with an own goal from Gianluca Mancini. The unbeaten match was coming to an end, but in the seventh minute of added time, Josip Stanisic made it 2-2. A ranking and an undefeated team that has already reached 49 games.
The Aspirinas club not only reaches the final of the Europa League, but also keeps the triplet goal alive. He is already Bundesliga champion and also has the definition of the German Cup on the horizon, which will take place on May 25 against Kaiserslautern.
The other finalist is Atalanta. In an unprecedented way, the Bergamo team reached a continental final. It is the culmination of the process led by coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who converted the team nerazzurri He became a Serie A performer and a regular representative of his country in cups. At home, they beat Olympique de Marseille 3-0. The first leg ended 1-1 in France.
Atalanta’s goals were scored by Ademola Lookman (30′), Matteo Ruggeri (52′) and El Bilal Touré (90’+4′). The Europa League grand final will be played on May 22 in Dublin, Ireland.
The Conference Final
For its part, the Conference League, the third and most recent UEFA tournament, also knows its finalists. Fiorentine It was the first, after their qualification on Wednesday in Belgium, against Bruges. The viola box will collide with the Olympiacos of Greece, who eliminated Aston Villa.
Last week in Birmingham, the Greeks won 4-2, leaving the series on track. Now they won again, 2-0. Both goals were scored by Ayoub El Kaabi. Even the return of Argentine Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez in goal for the Villains was of little use to Unai Emery’s men, who are trying to qualify for the next Champions League via the Premier League .
The final of the third edition of the Conference will be played on May 29 in Athens.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
