Newly crowned bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have set a new European unbeaten record of 49 successive games in securing a late draw with Roma to reach the Europa League final.
Josip Stanisic scored with the last kick of the game in the 97th minute to earn Bayern Leverkusen a 2-2 draw and a 4-2 aggregate victory. Roma who lost the first leg in Italy were much improved in Germany, Leandro Paredes scored two penalties to level the score on aggregate.
An own goal from Gianluca Mancini handed Leverkusen the crucial advantage in the two-legged semi-final before Croatia defender Stanisic ensured history with the latest in a long line of Leverkusen late goals.
Bayern Leverkusen have now gone 49 successive games without defeat in all competitions, including 40 victories.
This means that Leverkusen, who were knocked out by Roma at this stage last season have now set a new unbeaten run initially being held by Benfica who went unbeaten between December 1963 and February 1965.
That feat by the Portuguese giants was the longest unbeaten run since the advent of European competition, according to UEFA until this remarkable Leverkusen campaign.
Alonso’s men, who are seeking a treble this season having won the Bundesliga title and also reached the German Cup final, will now face Italian side Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin on 22 May.
Leverkusen also have become the second German side to reach a European final this week, after Dortmund won their Champions League semi-final to set up a meeting with Real Madrid at Wembley.
