In a thrilling UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg, Bayer Leverkusen, under the management of Xabi Alonso, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the team with the longest unbeaten streak in European football history. Their 2-2 draw against Roma on May 10 extended their undefeated run to an impressive 49 games across all competitions, surpassing SL Benfica’s 59-year-old record.
Despite conceding two penalty goals to Roma’s Leandro Parades, Bayer Leverkusen rallied back with a late own-goal from Gianluca Mancini and a stoppage-time goal from Josep Stanicic, securing their place in the Europa League final against Atalanta on May 23. Bayer Leverkusen’s ability to snatch late goals has been a hallmark of their season, transforming them from underdogs to formidable contenders.
The draw against Roma came after Bayer Leverkusen had already clinched the first leg with a comfortable 2-0 victory. With their remarkable unbeaten streak and recent Bundesliga title win, Bayer Leverkusen’s aspirations for a treble have soared. Their upcoming DFB Pokal final against FC Kaiserslautern on May 25 further fuels speculation about their potential for a historic season under Xabi Alonso’s leadership.
However, Bayer Leverkusen faces a formidable challenge in Atalanta, who have displayed impressive form, including a convincing 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille in the Europa League semi-finals. As anticipation builds for the final showdown, Bayer Leverkusen’s undefeated record adds an extra layer of promise to their quest for glory.
