Alonso Leads Bayer Leverkusen To Historic Unbeaten Run In Europe

Bayer Leverkusen secured their place in the Europa League final, setting a new record of 49 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

This remarkable achievement propelled them past Benfica’s previous record and also solidified their position in this year’s Europa League final against Atalanta.

The journey to this historic milestone began with Leverkusen’s impressive run of 41 wins and 8 draws across various competitions, surpassing the legendary Benfica side led by Eusebio between December 1963 and February 1965. This feat places them at the pinnacle of top-flight teams since the inception of European competition, a testament to their consistency and resilience on the field.

Arsenal went 49 league matches unbeaten from May 2003 to October 2004, however, that streak included several defeats in other competitions. Leverkusen’s achievement stands out for its unblemished record across all competitions, setting them apart as they aim for an unprecedented invincible treble.

Having already won the Bundesliga title with five matches to spare, Die Werkself now faces Bochum and Augsburg in their final league fixtures before preparing for the German Cup final against Kaiserslautern.

The crucial moment that sealed their place in the Europa League final came in the second leg against Roma, with a dramatic last-minute equalizer from Josip Stanisic. Despite falling behind to two penalties from Leandro Paredes, Leverkusen showcased their resilience as Gianluca Mancini’s own goal and Stanisic’s late strike ensured their unbeaten run remained intact.

The pressure to preserve their invincibility will continue to grow in the next few weeks, but with almost an entire fully-fit squad to choose from and confidence at an all-time high, Leverkusen shows no signs of wilting as they close in on football immortality.

Unbeaten post-war runs in competitive top-level matches:

49: Bayer Leverkusen between 2023 and 2024

48: Benfica between 1963 and 1965

45: Dinamo Zagreb between 2014 and 2015

43: Juventus between 2011 and 2012

42: Ajax between 1995 and 1996

42: AC Milan between 1991 and 1992

40: Nottingham Forest in 1978

42: Real Madrid between 2016 and 2017