Bayer Leverkusen smash longest unbeaten run since 2000 across Europe - Real Madrid 5th

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Bayer Leverkusen continued to live up their new nickname of "Never-lusen" following a dramatic comeback against Roma in the semi-finals of the Europa League. After going two goals down to the SerieA side, Xabi Alonso's team turned things around with an own goal in the 82nd minute, following by a wonderful strike from Josip Stanisic seven minutes into additional time. Not only did the goal confirm Leverkusen's spot in the final in Dublin, where they will face Atalanta, but also continued the club's remarkable unbeaten run.

Indeed, Thursday's draw now means that the Bundesliga club have gone unbeaten in 49 games across all competitions, going back to 2023. Not only is that a remarkable achievement in its own right, which has also seen the club march to the final of the German Cup and win their first every Bundesliga title, but it's also the best unbeaten run from a club in Europe's top 10 leagues since 2000. Which means Alonso's side could still win a historic treble before the end of the season. 

Clubs with the longest unbeaten streaks in all competitions from Europe’s top ten leagues since 2000

Bayer's 49 match unbeaten run has now seen them put some distance between themelves and second-placed Juventus from the 2010s. Under Antonio Conte, Juventus became the first Italian side to go unbeaten through the league campaign in 2011-12. Juventus didn’t play in European competition that campaign and their only loss arrived in the Coppa Italia final to Napoli. Celtic rank second on the list after their 42 game unbeaten run between November 2016 and August 2017. Brendan Rodgers’ side were named the “invincibles" after completing the league season without defeat as they clinched the treble by lifting the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Inter Milan feature twice in the top five longest unbeaten run list from May 2004 to February 2005 (40 games) and October 2006 to April 2007 (39 games).

Real Madrid complete the top five with their 40 game unbeaten from April 2016 to January 2017. Arsenal famously went unbeaten to win the English Premier League but they lost in the two domestic cup competitions and the Champions League during the 2003/04 campaign. All the clubs in the top ten won their league championship during, or as a result of their run, except PSV. They went 39 games undefeated between March 2009 and January 2010 but they finished third in the Eredivisie in 2010/11 behind champions Twente and Ajax.