Bayer Leverkusen produced a late fightback to hold Roma to a thrilling 4-4 draw in their Champions League clash at the BayArena.
Javier Hernandez scored twice to fire the hosts into a two-goal lead, but a double from Daniele de Rossi levelled the scores before half time.
After the break, Miralem Pjanic curled in a free kick to give Roma the lead for the first time, before Iago Falque's strike put them 4-2 ahead.
However, Kevin Kampl pulled a goal back with a curling effort into the top corner and moments later Admir Mehmedi slotted in from close range to rescue a point for the Germans.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening all! The Champions League is back as the group stage enters its third matchday. There is plenty to play for and two teams who were beaten last time out will be hoping for a big response, as Roma travel to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen.
The hosts came close to shocking Barcelona in their previous European outing, before the Spaniards produced a late comeback to win 2-1 at the Camp Nou. However, they did win in their opening group match against BATE Borisov and have been in good form in the Bundesliga over the past month.
Roma also suffered a defeat away from home in their second group outing as they suffered a shock 3-2 loss at BATE. They did manage to earn a point in their first match against Barcelona, while they are flying high in Serie A and are just a point of leaders Fiorentina.
The Giallorossi are out for their warm-up. Here's our view of the pitch #BayerRoma @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/GgEesQ8C9w
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) October 20, 2015
BAYER LEVERKUSEN XI: Leno, Donati, Tah, Papadopoulos, Wendell, Kramer, Toprak, Kampl, Bellarabi, Hernandez, Calhanoglu
ROMA XI: Szczesny, Torosidis, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne, Florenzi, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Pjanic, Gervinho, Salah
BAYER LEVERKUSEN SUBS: Kresic, Boenisch, Jedvaj, Brandt, Ramalho, Mehmedi, Yurchenko
ROMA SUBS: De Sanctis, Castan, Iturbe, Dzeko, Maicon, Falque, Vainqueur
So, there's plenty of firepower on show for each side this evening. Leverkusen will be hoping that former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez can add to the goal that he scored in the group-stage opener against BATE. Hakan Calhanoglu and Karim Bellarabi are also in the starting lineup and can provide the Mexican with all the support he needs in the attack.
Meanwhile, it appears as though Roma will line up in a 4-4-2 formation this evening, with Mohamed Salah and Gervinho leading the line. There is plenty of big names in the midfield, with Alessandro Florenzi, Daniele De Rossi, Radja Nainggolan and Miralem Pjanic all starting, while Wojciech Szczesny keeps his place in goal, despite an error-prone showing in Belarus last time out.
Bayer will be hoping that they can at least match last season's achievement of reaching the last 16. On that occasion they were beaten by Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout after two hard-fought matches that ended in 1-0 wins for the home sides.
It was a campaign to forget for Roma, as they failed to make it past the group stage on their return to the tournament. They suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat against Bayern Munich, before they were pipped to second spot in the group by Manchester City after a 2-0 defeat to the Citizens in their final match.
These teams have played each other in the Champions League before, as they were drawn together in the same group 11 years ago. Leverkusen managed a 3-1 win at home, while a late goal from Vincenzo Montella denied them another victory in Roma as the match finished in a 1-1 draw. Bayer would go on to top the group, with Roma heading out of Europe after finishing bottom on just a single point.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the BayArena!
CHANCE! Leverkusen almost make a perfect start as they drive to the byline and get plenty of men forward. The ball is then played back to Calhanoglu, who fires in a strike which deflects through to Hernandez, but the Mexican can only head over the bar from close range.
SHOT! Down the other end of the pitch Pjanic has Roma's first effort on goal, with a strike from range which flies well wide of the target. It is already looking like we are going to be in for an exciting match in Germany this evening.
PENALTY TO LEVERKUSEN! Bayer will have the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, after Torosidis handles Calhanoglu's cross inside the box. Initially it seemed as if the referee was not going to give it, but he eventually blew his whistle, much to the disdain of the visitors.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Roma (Javier Hernandez)
Hernandez steps up to take the penalty and slides a cool effort into the bottom left-hand corner, after Szczesny had dived the wrong way. It's the perfect start for the hosts, but once again Roma have conceded a goal early on in the Champions League.
That really was the last thing Roma would have wanted this evening, having let in three goals in the opening 30 minutes of their defeat against BATE. They also conceded relatively early on against Barcelona, but there is plenty of time for them to get back into this.
Roma have seen more of the ball since going behind, but they are yet to have any serious attempts on Leno's goal. The hosts seem happy to allow their opponents some time in possession, in the knowledge that they have plenty of pace on the counter when they steal it back.
Gervinho is almost through on goal when he races clear of the defence and attempts to latch onto a long ball over the top. However, Leno reads the situation well is quickly off his line to get to the ball and hammer it clear before the Ivorian can arrive.
SAVE! Leverkusen are really struggling to deal with Gervinho's runs in behind, and the Ivorian latches onto the ball on the edge of the box after a mix up at the back. He then plays it out wide to Salah, who finds Pjanic in space, but the midfielder's powerful attempt on goal is palmed away by Leno.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Roma (Javier Hernandez)
What a night it's turning out to be for Hernandez, as the Mexican scores his second of the evening. The striker makes a great run to latch onto Calhanoglu's ball through the middle, before seeing his attempt on goal saved by Szczesny. However, the rebound falls to him kindly, and he makes no mistake the second time around to slide a low effort into the net.
Roma were looking the more dangerous of the two teams until that second goal, but some poor defending has cost them. They had given the ball away cheaply deep inside their own half, which led to Calhanoglu receiving possession. It got even worse from that moment, as their defence failed to pick up the run of Hernandez, who cruelly punished them yet again.
SHOT! Roma win a corner and get plenty of men into the box, but the delivery from Florenzi fails to pick out any of his teammates. The ball eventually drops to Nainggolan, who is standing just outside the box, but he can only hammer a strike well over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Nainggolan is the first player to pick up a booking this evening for a dive inside the box. There was clearly no contact between the midfielder and Papadopoulos, and he can't have any complaints about the decision.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Roma (Daniele De Rossi)
Out of nothing the visitors are back in the game, and it's De Rossi who gets the goal. Leverkusen struggle to deal with a corner, and Manolas rises highest to head it on towards the Roma skipper. He then takes the ball down on his chest and slides an effort past Leno to give his team a lifeline.
CHANCE! What a huge chance this is for Hernandez to complete his hat-trick. The striker looks set to score after Szczesny misses a cross from Bellarabi, but he heads the ball down into the ground and it bounces up and over the bar. Will Leverkusen be made to regret that miss?
YELLOW CARD! De Rossi is the latest Roma player to pick up a booking this evening. Just a few moments ago Nainggolan had gone in with a tough tackle on Hernandez, but he was not cautioned, which was just as well for Roma as he has already been booked.
YELLOW CARD! It's another booking, and this time Kramer goes into the referee's notebook for a foul on Nainggolan. Roma have also been given a free kick in a promising position out wide, and they have sent plenty of men into the box.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Roma (Daniele De Rossi)
Incredible! Roma have fought back from two goals down and De Rossi is the man who finds the net for the second time this evening. From the free kick that Nainggolan had just won, Pjanic whips a superb cross into the middle that De Rossi meets to guide into the corner of the net. What will happen next in this fantastic match?
SHOT! Leverkusen look absolutely stunned and Roma are on the hunt for a third goal before the break. The hosts still can't cope with Gervinho's runs, and this time the striker lays it off for Nainggolan to strike an effort from 25 yards, but the Belgian smashes the ball high into the stands.
HALF-TIME: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Roma
The referee blows the whistle for half time and it has been a truly incredible opening 45 minutes in Germany. Roma have come from two goals down to draw level with Bayer Leverkusen, and I've got a feeling that there are a few more twists and turns left in this match.
© Getty Images
Let's try and make some sense of the first half by taking a look at the statistics. Roma have seen plenty of the ball, having amassed a hefty 61% of the possession. They have also had eight attempts on goal, which is two more than the visitors have managed, while both teams have hit the target three times.
In tonight's other Group E match, it is currently goalless between European champions Barcelona and BATE Borisov. The Spaniards have dominated that match and have had plenty of chances to score, but the Belarusians are proving a tough side to crack.
RESTART! Roma take the kick off for the second half and get the action back underway!
SAVE! Roma create the first chance of the half when Pjanic whips another fine free kick into the box. Instead of one of his teammates getting a touch, it's Donati who flicks the ball towards his own goal, but Leno is well placed to tip it over the bar.
SHOT! Kampl tries his luck for Leverkusen when he receives the ball up in space and looks to curl an effort from range into the corner. However, his shot lacks the power needed to trouble Szczesny, who holds on to make a comfortable stop.
CHANCE! Gervinho almost creates a goal of his own making as he picks the ball up in the midfield and charges past a number of tackles and into the box. He then has just Leno to beat, but can only poke the ball straight at the keeper, who palms the attempt away to safety.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Roma (Miralem Pjanic)
Roma complete the turnaround in stunning fashion as set-piece specialist Pjanic curls a wonderful free kick from just outside the box into the top corner. The Bosnian has been brilliant this evening and there was no chance of Leno saving the strike. What a brilliant comeback this has been from the Italians.
SUB! Leverkusen respond to falling behind by bringing on Mehmedi for Bellarabi.
Bayer are looking for a quick response and they win a succession of corners down the left-hand side. Calhanoglu takes the set pieces and puts in some fine deliveries, but none of his colleagues are able to turn the ball in, as Roma clear the threat.
SUB! Roma make their first change of the match, with Falque coming on to replace Salah.
SHOT! Roma look dangerous on the break and a fourth goal might just kill of the tie. Nainggolan attempts to find the net when he lashes in a fierce drive from just outside the box, but Leno is behind the strike all the way and holds onto the ball with ease.
SHOT! It's end to end at the moment and Leverkusen burst forward on the attack. They manage to work the ball to the edge of the box, before it breaks kindly to Calhanoglu. He then fires in a low drive, but it takes a deflection and heads out of play for a corner.
SUB! It's another change for the hosts, as Brandt comes on for Kramer, who has been struggling with an injury in recent minutes.
CHANCE! Brandt almost makes an immediate impact when he evades his marker and bursts into the box. He then fires in a low strike towards the near post, but Szczesny was there to claim and hold onto the ball.
OFF THE BAR! Roma come within inches of grabbing a fourth goal as Florenzi bursts down the right and into the box, before seeing his powerful strike saved by Leno. The ball then drops to Falque at the back post, but the Spaniard directs his header onto the top of the crossbar.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 2-4 Roma (Iago Falque)
Having missed the chance to score a fourth goal just moments ago, Falque has surely now secured a memorable victory for Roma. Gervinho creates the goal with a fine run down the left, before cutting past Tah and squaring for the Spaniard to fire past Leno from close range.
CHANCE! This must go down as a big chance for the hosts. They win a corner down the right which is whipped into the box by Calhanoglu, but after rising above everyone in the middle, Papadopoulos can only head the ball into the keeper's arms.
SUB! Leverkusen make their third and final change of the match, with Toprak making way for Yurchenko.
Leverkusen are seeing plenty of the ball at the moment, but they are struggling to create any clear-cut chances on goal. Their attacks are breaking down on the edge of their opponents' box, and from there Roma have the pace to really trouble them on the counter.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 3-4 Roma (Kevin Kampl)
Maybe it's not quite over, as Kampl finds the net to pull Leverkusen to within a goal of Roma. It's a fine goal from the Slovenian, who works some space on the edge of the box, before curling a stunning strike beyond the reach of the keeper and into the far corner.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 4-4 Roma (Admir Mehmedi)
This is truly unbelievable, as Leverkusen fight back to level the scores at 4-4. Kampl turns creator with a fine ball down the left for Wendell, who then drives a low cross to the back post that is fired in to the net from close range by Mehmedi. The game looked dead and buried just minutes ago, but it is all to play for yet again in the closing stages.
There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time.
CHANCE! The man who stared the scoring this evening almost ends it in style as Hernandez breaks clear of the defence and drives into the box. He then fires in a powerful strike that beats the keeper and looks headed for the corner, but the ball whistles inches wide of the far post.
FULL-TIME: Bayer Leverkusen 4-4 Roma
It's all over in Germany, where Bayer Leverkusen and Roma have shared a sensational 4-4 draw. The game took so many turns and it really was an amazing watch. Let's hope that they can repeat the spectacle when they meet again in two weeks in Rome!
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Right, that's all we've time for this evening, and I need to catch my breath after all that excitement. Don't worry though, as there's more European football coming up for you tomorrow night, with the group stage of the Champions League continuing. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
