Top five longest unbeaten runs in Champions League history

City equalled the record for the longest unbeaten run in the competition history.

With their 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, Manchester City have equalled the tournament record set by rivals Manchester United back in May 2009 by going 25 games without losing in the UEFA Champions League.

City haven’t lost a UCL game since the second leg of the semi-final matchup with Real Madrid in 2021–2022. Following their 3-1 loss at the Bernabéu on May 4, 2022, they went on a 25-game unbeaten streak during which they drew just eight games.

However, they (City and United) weren’t the only clubs that embarked on unbeaten runs. Over the decades we have seen many other sides who have been on a long unbeaten streak in the Champions League. Below we take a look.

FULL-TIME | Fantastic four in Bratislava 🙌⚪️ 0-4 🤎 #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/SEanFTezSx

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 1, 2024

5. Barcelona – 16 games (2011-12)

Pep Guardiola orchestrated and Lionel Messi drove Barcelona’s 2011–12 undefeated run. Under the Spanish manager, the club were an undisputed king of Europe winning two trophies in the span of three years.

It started in the 2010–11 Champions League Round of 16 with a victory over Arsenal in the second leg. The fact that Andrey Arshavin led the Gunners to a win in the first leg keeps this streak from becoming much longer. In addition, they played one of the biggest El Clasico’s and defeated Real Madrid in the competition’s semifinals. They later even prevailed over Manchester United in the final game.

4. Bayern Munich – 19 games (2001-02 & 2019-2021)

Bayern Munich have twice gone 19 games without losing, accomplishing the milestones 19 years apart from one another.

The first occurred during their Champions League victory in 2001 when they began their run of six consecutive wins on matchday six of the group stage before beating Valencia in the final on penalties. They went unbeaten in the group stages of the next season. But their run ended in the second leg of their match against Real Madrid after Los Blancos overcame a 2-1 first-leg deficit.

3. Ajax – 19 games (1994-96)

The mid-90s were an unforgettable period for Ajax. They had a fantastic domestic season in addition to being the most dominant team in Europe at the time.

Their unbeaten run started in 1994. Tthey beat AC Milan twice in the group stage before trouncing them in the final of the competition. Their unbeaten run finally came to an end when they lost against Panathinaikos in the quarter-finals of the 1995-96 Champions League season.

2. Manchester City – 25 games (2022-24*)

Record-breaking successes have become the norm for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. Tuesday, the team easily defeated Slovan Bratislava 4-0 to tie the record and go 25 games undefeated in the Champions League.

This saw them equal their local Premier League rival’s record of 25 matches without a defeat in the Champions League. However, now City will have a chance to break their record when they next face Sparta Praha.

*still active

1. Manchester United – 25 games (2007-09)

Manchester United, the first team on this list, had an absolutely amazing run during which they won their third European Cup.

United’s unbeaten run was started by one and only Cristiano Ronaldo when he scored a solitary goal in a 1-0 win against Sporting CP. In their quest for the third Champions League trophy in the 2007-08 season, the Red Devils oversaw the likes of Lyon, Roma, and Barcelona in the group stages before ousting Chelsea on penalties in the final.

United’s run continued next season in the competition. They once again reached the final of the competition but were defeated by eventual winners Barcelona in the 2008-09 season.

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