Bayer Leverkusen sealed the longest unbeaten record in history after claiming a 2-2 home draw to Roma.

Bayer Leverkusen sealed the longest unbeaten record in history after claiming a 2-2 home draw to Roma.

Xabi Alonso’s men looked set for defeat in their Europa League semi-final against Roma, only for Josip Stanisic to score in the 96th minute and secure a 2-2 draw and 4-2 victory for Leverkusen on aggregate.

Roma drew level in the tie through two Leandro Paredes penalties, only for a disastrous own goal from Gianluca Mancini to hand Leverkusen the crucial advantage in the two-legged semi-final.

Advert

Croatia defender Stanisic then ensured history with another late goal.

Of their 49 undefeated games across all competitions, Leverkusen had won 40 of those.

They surpassed the 48-game unbeaten run of a Eusebio-led Benfica side, set between December 1963 and February 1965.

Advert

The Portuguese giants’ feat had stood alone as the longest unbeaten run since the advent of European competition, according to UEFA, until Leverkusen equalled it with a 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.

Alonso’s side had already ended Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga dominance while their aggregate win against Roma has seen them reach their first European final in over two decades.

Alonso said before the Roma encounter: “We want to stay unbeaten and we know every week it gets tougher.”

Leverkusen have gone 49 games unbeaten in all competitions (Getty)

He added: “If we have to lose some games, such as the second leg 1-0, we will not say no if it takes us to the final.

Advert

“Our mentality is to win every game and we will try to do this. Nothing is done and we’ve seen a lot of comebacks in football in the last year.

“You can never say the job is done.”

Leverkusen are in prime position to claim their first European trophy in 36 years.

They will face Atalanta in the final, with the Serie A outfit having dispatched Marseille 4-1.

Advert

Leverkusen have left it late on a number of occasions to keep hold of their unbeaten run.

They have now scored 17 goals in the 90th minute or later across all competitions this season.

Featured Image Credit: Getty/TNT Sports

Topics: Bayer Leverkusen, Europa League, Xabi Alonso, Roma, Benfica

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I’m also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don’t hold this against me.