Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive form and qualified for the final round of the Europa League with a 4-2 aggregate win over Daniele De Rossi’s side.
Atalanta, on the other hand, defeated Olympic Marseille in the Europa League semi-finals to get to the final. The Serie A side showed their football power against the French giant. Atalanta were able to qualify on a 4-1 aggregate.
How AS Roma Failed to Qualify for the Europa League Final Despite Playing a 2-2 Draw With Bayer Leverkusen
In the fourth minute of the game, Romelu Lukaku had a beautiful chance, but his chest control wasn’t good enough to score AS Roma’s first goal.
In the 16th minute of the game, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Palacios forced AS Roma goalkeeper Slivar into a save. A few minutes after the Palacios attempt, AS Roma’s Pellegrini’s header was saved by Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Kovar.
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Palacios hit the goal post in the 29th minute of the game. Jeroime Frimpong hit the ball in a beautiful way, but it was saved by AS Roma goalkeeper Slivar.
AS Roma went ahead in the 41st minute of the game through a penalty after Romelu Lukaku was pulled down by Bayer Leverkusen player in the 18-yard box.
Paredes put the ball into the back of the net, with the German Bundesliga champion goalkeeper having zero chance of saving the ball.
In the second half of the game, the AS Roma side had another penalty, with Leonardo Paredes sending the goalkeeper, Kovar, the wrong way.
Bayer started their comeback in the 82nd minute of the game as AS Roma defender scored an own goal.
Bayer Leverkusen attacker Stanisic scored the equalizer with the last kick of the game.
Atalanta 3-0 Marseille
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman saw the back of the net as Atalanta secured their place in the 2023/2024 Europa League final with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille.
Lookman scored in the 30th minute of play after his deflected strike glid past the visitors’ shot-stopper Pau Lopez into the bottom corner.
Matteo Ruggeri handed the home team a two-goal lead at the beginning of the second half as he struck with a right-foot effort into the top corner.
El Bilal Toure, who was substituted in injury time gave Atalanta their third goal to secure the final stage for the Italian side.
How Atalanta defeated Marseille
Atalanta, who knocked out Liverpool in the quarter-final round, saw several chances to put the tie beyond Marseille in the first half.
Marseille were also allowed to level the game early in the second half, but former Sheffield United frontman Iliman Ndiaye failed to hit the target with his weak effort over Juan Musso.
However, Atalanta continued with their attacking technique, and Ruggeri’s brilliant effort in the 52nd minute strengthened the home side in Bergamo stadium.
The Italian outfit claimed a third goal in the fourth minute of added time when Mali striker Toure fired a fine finish across Lopez.
After Atalanta secured their first final in European competition, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men will take on Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 22, 2024.
