Leverkusen eyes record: Could break unbeaten streak against Roma in Europa League semifinal
Bayer Leverkusen, already crowned champions of the German Bundesliga, could surpass their all-time unbeaten record when they face AS Roma in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal on Thursday.
The German team extended their unbeaten streak to 48 games on Sunday by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, thereby matching the record set by Portuguese club Benfica from 1963 to 1965.
Leverkusen secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg of the semifinal on May 2 in Italy. "2-0 is a good result; we head home happy yet cautious. This season has been remarkable. Our players are not only talented but also highly focused. Consistency is the toughest part, but we're determined to maintain this momentum until the season ends," said Leverkusen's Spanish manager, Xabi Alonso, in a statement on the Europa League's official website.
Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Roma, highlighted the challenge ahead, stating, "We know that in the return leg, we must accomplish something extraordinary: secure a 2-0 victory in the stadium of a team that has never lost. We'll need to intensify our attacks, mirroring our first-half performance in the first leg. Breaking through could change everything. We are committed to playing aggressively until the final whistle."
As Bayer Leverkusen aims for their second major title since 1988, the 2022 UEFA European Conference League champions AS Roma are vying for their first Europa League trophy.
