The longest unbeaten runs in Champions League history

Manchester City equalled a Champions League record on Tuesday evening as the Citizens cruised to a 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been a regular force in this competition across the last decade and the win in Slovakia extended their unbeaten run in the Champions League to 25 games – the joint-longest streak in the competition’s history.

The longest unbeaten runs in Champions League history

Barcelona – 16 games (2011-12)

Pep Guardiola was also in charge of the fifth-longest unbeaten run, after leading Barcelona to 16 games without defeat in the Champions League between 2011 and 2012.

The Spanish side were crowned European champions during the 2010/11 season, producing arguably the most complete final performance of all time to beat Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley.

After losing their last-16 first leg at Arsenal, Barcelona turned around the tie to progress and went on to win the Champions League. Their next defeat did not come until the semi-finals of the following season’s tournament, as a Didier Drogba goal earned Chelsea a 1-0 win over the Catalans at Stamford Bridge.

Bayern Munich – 19 games (2001-02)

Bayern Munich went 19 games without losing in the Champions League in the early noughties. A 3-0 defeat at Lyon in March 2001 was a rare blemish on their 2000/01 campaign, which saw Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team beat Valencia on penalties to win the trophy.

The following season, Bayern progressed through both group stages without losing a game before their run ended in the last eight. Goals from Iván Helguera and Guti condemned the holders to a 2-0 defeat at Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Ajax – 19 games (1994-96)

Ajax’s 1994/95 season remains one of the most iconic in European football history. The Dutch side won an Eredivisie and Champions League double undefeated, with their only loss in 49 games across all competitions to Feyenoord in the KNVB Cup quarter-finals.

Louis van Gaal’s side beat AC Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final, courtesy of a late goal from 18-year-old substitute Patrick Kluivert. Ajax were not defeated in Europe until a 1-0 loss to Panathinaikos in their semi-final first leg in 1995/96. The holders recovered to win the second leg in Greece and progress but lost the decider to Juventus on penalties.

Manchester City – 25 games* (2022-24)

Manchester City stretched their unbeaten run in the Champions League to 25 games after easing past minnows Slovan Bratislava this week.

The run began in 2022/23 as Pep Guardiola’s team won the Champions League for the first time. Rodri’s goal earned the Citizens a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the final, with the club crowned champions of Europe without losing a game.

City’s defence of the Champions League ended in last season’s quarter-finals. However, defeat to Real Madrid came on penalties after both legs of the last-eight tie were drawn.

The Premier League champions have extended their unbeaten run to 25 games this season and can take the record outright if defeat is avoided against Sparta Prague on October 23rd.

Manchester United – 25 games (2007-09)

Manchester United share the record with their cross-town neighbours. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side reached consecutive Champions League finals in 2008 and 2009, beating Chelsea in the former final on penalties in Moscow.

The Red Devils did not lose a game on route to that triumph, a run that included wins over AS Roma and Barcelona in the knockout rounds before besting Chelsea in the first all-English final.

The following season, United reached the final again. Inter Milan, Porto and Arsenal were all eliminated, though their unbeaten record came to an end in the decider. Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi scored the goals as Barcelona won 2-0 in Rome to complete a treble under Pep Guardiola.

Read – The players with the most assists in Champions League history

See more – The highest scoring Englishmen in Champions League history

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