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| Xabi Alonso, Manager of Bayer Leverkusen, looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at BayArena on February 23, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. |
Bayer Leverkusen are two games away from achieving an unprecadented full season unbeaten.
Leverkusen completed a full Bundesliga season with losing on Saturday -- extending their run to 51 games -- having clinched the title last month. Xabi Alonso's side now face two cup finals in four days to achieve a previously unthinkable unbeaten season in domestic and continental competition.
Leverkesen will play in the Europa League final against Atalanta on Wednesday before facing second-tier side Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday -- a game in which they are heavily favoured.
Alonso's side have produced a number of stunning comebacks this season, both domestically and in Europe, and the Europa League has provided some of the biggest tests of their streak.
Three times in six games in the knockout rounds, they were 2-0 down deep into the second half: In both round of 16 games against Qarabag and in the semifinals return leg against Roma.
In another streak-saving Europa game, at West Ham in the quarterfinals, Leverkusen were set to advance on aggregate score yet needed an 89th-minute goal by right-back Jeremie Frimpong to draw 1-1 and stay unbeaten.
"We don't want to wait until the last seconds of the game," said Patrick Schick, whose three stoppage-time goals against Qarabag in March were key to advancing 5-4 on aggregate. "We would like to make it clear, really, earlier."
Winning their final two games would complete a remarkable season for Leverkusen, coming in Alonso's first full season as a head coaching.
"For me it's very special," Alonso said last week. "My first title as a coach was the Bundesliga. It was super, it was very special. But a title in Europe would be wonderful and hopefully we will be able to say that."
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