5 Longest Unbeaten Runs in Europe’s Top Leagues

There are teams with lengthy unbeaten streaks. Similar to Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica. Bayer Leverkusen’s extraordinary unbeaten record now stands at 45 games, putting them in contention for European crowns.

Several teams, including Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Juventus, had amazing unbroken streaks throughout history. Benfica leads the way with a 48-game unbeaten streak, demonstrating dominance in Europe.

Bayer Leverkusen’s amazing undefeated streak this season has taken the world by surprise. They strolled to the Bundesliga title, their first major trophy, and appear to be on track to compete for the Europa League and DFB Cup. Last-minute equalisers, surprising winners, and persistent desire perfectly describe a German side led by Xabi Alonso.

However, they are not the only team that has managed to embark on a costly unbeaten streak over the years. Since the 1960s, numerous clubs have gone unbeaten for an entire season, confounding logic and tradition. Here are five best unblemished records in Europe’s top leagues.

1) Real Madrid – 40

First and foremost, Real Madrid was one of the best teams in the world throughout the 2016/2017 season. They won La Liga by three points over fierce rivals Barcelona, won the Club World Cup and Super Cup, and, most importantly, conquered Europe once more in the Champions League. With Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo on the attack, they appeared invincible. That was partially correct, as at January 12, 2017, a last-minute goal from Karim Benzema won a 3-3 draw against Sevilla, extending the unbeaten streak to 40 games, a record in Spanish football. Incredible in every way.

2) Ac Milan – 42

AC Milan went 42 matches unbeaten across all competitions. What was more astonishing was their 58-match unbeaten streak in Serie A from 1991 to 1993, but the occasional defeat in other competitions dampened spirits. The 1991/1992 Milan team was dubbed “Gli invincibili” (the invincibles in English) by the media for their accomplishments. As they cruised to the Serie A title unbroken, they had fully controlled the country, with Marco van Basten proving to be their crucial player, scoring 25 goals in the competition.

3) Juventus – 43

Juventus won the Serie A again in 2012, although it was the club’s first real league win since 2003; they had previously won two Serie A titles (2004/2005 and 2005/2006), but both were stripped as a result of the Calciopoli investigation. The Italian giants finished the league season undefeated, setting a new record for Italy’s 20-team league format. Antonio Conte’s team also competed in the Coppa Italia final, losing 2-0 against Napoli, their first and only seasonal defeat. They embodied the concept of formidable.

4) Bayer Leverkusen – 45

Bayer Leverkusen’s performances during the 2023/2024 season have been outstanding. When they hired Xabi Alonso last season, no one expected them to even challenge Bayern Munich for the title, let alone win. However, the team of superstars defied all expectations, with players such as Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jeremie Frimpong flourishing in the spotlight. They’ve scored several last-minute equalisers, including one away at Dortmund in mid-April, to maintain their unblemished record. The German side meets Roma in the Europa League semi-finals, and they are already in the DFB Pokal final, as ‘Neverkusen’ hopes for more success.

5) Benfica – 48

Bayer Leverkusen is three games behind Benfica for the longest unbeaten streak in Europe’s top leagues, which lasted from 1963 to 1965. The Portuguese heavyweights, who possessed Eusebio at the time, ruled Europe and their home league. They lost only one league match in the first half of the 1963/1964 season, and only two more the following season. They lost the European Cup final to Real Madrid in 1965, but despite their defeat, they shown tremendous quality that allowed them to continue unbeaten for so long. However, Bayer Leverkusen may soon beat their record.