48 Games And Counting - Can Bayer Leverkusen Remain Invincible?

Bayer Leverkusen beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 on the weekend to increase their unbeaten record to 48 ... [+] games. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Bayer Leverkusen can’t be stopped. On Saturday, Leverkusen smashed Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in front of 58,000 visitors at sold-out Deutsche Bank Park thanks to goals by Granit Xhaka (12’) Patrik Schick (41’), Exequiel Palacios (58’ penalty) and Victor Boniface (89’ penalty). Hugo Ekitike made it briefly 1-1 (32’) but the strike by the French striker wasn’t enough against a rampant Leverkusen side.

Just days ahead of the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal against Roma, Leverkusen remains on track for two records. First, Die Werkself can become the first Bundesliga side to play an entire league campaign undefeated. Second, undefeated in 48 games, Leverkusen is now just one game away from breaking the record for the most undefeated games across all competitions.

That record could fall against Roma on Thursday. In that case, Leverkusen would also be through to the Europa League final. After securing the league title, Leverkusen has already reached the DFB Pokal, where the club will face 2. Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern.

“We are fully aware of it,” goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky said when asked about the potential of finishing the season unbeaten. “We never thought it would get to this ahead of the season starting. But now that we are here, it is an extra motivation.”

Indeed, with the Bundesliga title wrapped up, playing for records is a much-needed goal as the club tries to keep the pressure up ahead of two or three crucial games in cup competitions.

“You don’t even want to think about what happens if you finally lose a game,” Hradecky said. “It is best just to keep the run going. Then we don’t have to experience what happens afterward.”

Just for the record. Leverkusen’s last defeat was almost a year ago on May 27, 2027, on matchday 34 on the road against VfL Bochum (3-0). As it happens to be Bochum will be Leverkusen’s next opponent.

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. The record would be something to "tell the ... [+] grandchildren." (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

“We are so close,” Hradecky said. “Historically, today was a very difficult game. Now comes a very difficult game in Bochum. They have a big chance to fight off relegation at home in front of their own fans. That will be a tough game, as we lost to them last time.”

The same, however, can be said about Frankfurt. Leverkusen, in fact, lost 5-1 at the Deutsche Bank Park 18 months ago. It was Xabi Alonso’s second game in charge. Since then, the Spanish head coach has transformed Leverkusen into an unbeatable machine.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the run is the many tools with which Leverkusen can beat opponents. On Saturday, Alonso rested superstars Florian Wirtz and Alejandro Grimaldo ahead of the Roma fixture. In their stead, Brazilian wing-back Arthur made his starting XI debut, and the 21-year-old was indirectly involved in three of the five goals.

The ability to rotate his starting XI regularly might have been one of the main reasons for this season’s success. Another aspect has been Alonso’s uncanny ability to always develop the right tactical solutions whenever his team is in trouble.

With all that in mind, there is a pretty decent chance Leverkusen can continue their run this Thursday against Roma and set a record with 49 games unbeaten. That still leaves the Bundesliga record.

Two more wins there, and Leverkusen would become the first team in Bundesliga history to finish a season unfinished. If they also win the DFB Pokal final against Kaiserslautern, the record would move to 53 competitive fixtures unbeaten in 2023/24.

An incredible record, but what would it mean? “How it will be evaluated at the end doesn’t matter to us,” Hradecky said. “We are now just missing 180 minutes to get it, and we will give everything for it. It will give me something to tell my grandchildren if we manage it.”

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth and on Threads: @manuveth