Jose Mourinho’s Roma reached the Europa League final by holding Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw in the second leg of their semi-final tie.
Edoardo Bove’s goal gave the Italian side a 1-0 win in the first leg, and that was enough to take them through.
Moussa Diaby struck the crossbar for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side in the first half of the second leg, but they could not find the breakthrough.
Roma progress to face Sevilla in the final in Budapest on 31 May.
Mourinho has won all five of his previous five European finals, including last season’s Europa Conference League with Roma.
“My concern isn’t marking my place in the Roma history books,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“It’s helping these kids [players] to grow and achieve important things.
“It’s also helping the Roma fans who have given me so much since day one. It’s an immense joy to get to another final.”
With a deficit to overturn, Leverkusen were on the front foot early on and Diaby came close to levelling the tie after being sent clear down the right, only for his fierce effort to rattle the bar and bounce clear.
Kerem Demirbay saw his low shot saved by Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio soon after, while Leverkusen were furious when the referee waved play on when Sardar Azmoun appeared to be pulled down by Bryan Cristante just outside the box with just Patricio to beat.
The home side continued to push forward in the second half with Azmoun dragging a shot just wide, but for all their territorial dominance they struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Instead Roma can look forward to a second European final in as many years having not reached one for 31 years prior to last season.
—BBC—
