Xabi Alonso’s team extended their unbeaten streak to 49 games with a late victory, securing a spot in the Europa League final.

In a thrilling display of football, Josip Stanisic of Bayer Leverkusen emerged as the hero, celebrating with teammate Arthur, after scoring his team’s second goal in the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Semi-Final second leg match against AS Roma at BayArena on May 09, 2024.

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams, with Leverkusen ultimately securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League final and keeping their invincible treble dream alive with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Roma.

Roma initially posed a threat to Leverkusen’s aspirations when Leandro Paredes converted a penalty in the first half, putting the Italians in the lead. Paredes continued to make his mark on the game by scoring another penalty after the break, leveling the tie and putting Leverkusen’s unbeaten run in jeopardy.

However, Leverkusen seized an opportunity to turn the tide when Gianluca Mancini inadvertently scored an own goal, giving the hosts a chance to protect their remarkable unbeaten streak this season. It seemed that Leverkusen’s unbeaten run was coming to an end, until Stanisic unleashed a last-gasp effort to level the match in the 97th minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy of celebration.

With a 4-2 aggregate victory, Leverkusen now find themselves unbeaten in an impressive 49 games, surpassing Benfica’s record set between 1963 and 1965 as the longest unbeaten run since the inception of European competition.

Leverkusen’s journey in the UEFA Europa League has been nothing short of extraordinary, and their performance against Roma showcased their resilience and determination. As they prepare for the final, the team will undoubtedly be filled with confidence, knowing that they have what it takes to overcome any challenge that comes their way.