Bayer Leverkusen has set a new European unbeaten record of 49 successive games after 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 Xabi Alonso’s side a 2-2 draw on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Roma had lost the first leg in Italy but were a much improved side in Germany as they drew level in the tie through two Leandro Paredes penalties.
It would all start to turn sour for the Italian side when a disastrous 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.
They have now done 49 successive games without defeat in all competitions, including 40 victories.
It means Leverkusen, who were knocked out by Roma at this stage last season, better the unbeaten run. They were led by the late great Eusebio Benfica side and managed between December 1963 and February 1965.
According to UEFA, that feat by the Portuguese giants was the longest unbeaten run since the advent of European competition, 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 face Italian side Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin on 22 May.
Leverkusen dominated the first half, with former Arsenal man, Granit Xhaka striking the post from 22 yards before Roma keeper Mile Svilar made a fine double save to deny Adam Hlozek then Amine Adli.
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Roma would however take the lead against the run of play when Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah was dragged down Sardar Azmoun in the box, with Paredes smashing the resulting penalty down the middle of Matej Kovar’s goal.
The same pattern would repeat after the break, with Leverkusen having the better chances without scoring.
And they were punished again when Hlozek handballed from a Roma corner, allowing Paredes to step up and this time score low into the left corner.
Daniele De Rossi’s Roma appeared determined to force extra time until a nightmare moment with eight minutes remaining.
Svilar, who made 13 saves and was otherwise superb, flapped at a corner which flew between his gloves, hit the unsuspecting Mancini in the face at the far post and bounced into the net.
This was then followed up with Stanisic, who cut in from the right and fired low, left footed, past Svilar.
It was the 17th goal Leverkusen have scored after the 90th minute in matches across all competitions this season.
Leverkusen are now 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.
