Leverkusen juju intact as another late goal helps Boniface and Co break 60-year record

A goal in the seventh minute of extra time by defender Josip Stanisic saved Bayer Leverkusen from losing their unbeaten status in the semifinal of the Europa League against Roma

Two penalties from Argentine World Cup winner Leandro Paredes put Roma 2-0 ahead on the night, but an own goal from Gianluca Mancini and the late goal from Stanisic secured a draw for Bayer Leverkusen.

The eventual 2-2 draw saw Leverkusen reach the Europa League final after a 2-0 lead in the first leg gave them a 4-2 win on aggregate.

Despite courting danger yet again, Leverkusen managed to escape with their unbeaten status intact, with the team and manager setting European milestones in the process

Thanks to Stanisic's late leveller, Bayer Leverkusen secured a 49th match without defeat this season, breaking Benfica's record for the most unbeaten matches in a row in European football history, which stood at 48.

In addition to Bayer Leverkusen setting a new European unbeaten record, manager Xabi Alonso also became the sixth Spanish manager to reach the Europa League final as Spain extended their record for the country with the most coaches to manage in the competition's final.

Alonso joins Rafa Benitez, Quique Sanchez Flores, Julen Lopetegui, Jose Luis Mendilibar, and record competition winner, Unai Emery in the illustrious list of Spanish managers to have managed in the Europa League final.