sport news How Bayer Leverkusen became the story of the season: Xabi Alonso's brilliant ... trends now
Bayer Leverkusen have been seconds from disaster a few times recently.
In deepest Azerbaijan they were heading for a 2-1 defeat to Qarabag in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie until Patrik Schick equalised in the second minute of stoppage time.
But that was nothing on the drama of the return leg, which saw Qarabag leading 2-1 deep into stoppage time and Leverkusen about to crash out of Europe.
Cue goals from Schick in the 93rd and the 98th minute to enact the most stunning of turnarounds.
It has been happening domestically as well. On March 30, Leverkusen were trailing Hoffenheim entering the closing stages only for Robert Andrich and Schick again to haul them out of the fire.
Bayer Leverkusen celebrate their winning goal at Union Berlin last weekend, as they made it 41 matches without defeat in all competitions this season
Xabi Alonso has made himself the most wanted coach in Europe during a stunning campaign
It's turning into an unforgettable season for Leverkusen's fans with three trophies on the line
The upshot is that Xabi Alonso's team - incredibly - have made it to mid-April undefeated in all competitions and still on for a Treble of Bundesliga title, German Cup and Europa League.
Leverkusen put their 41-match unbeaten streak on the line again on Thursday night when they host West Ham in the Europa quarter-final, first leg.
Alonso may have committed his immediate future to the German club but had he decided to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, the players would have remained 'mentality monsters'.
There is a remarkable never-say-die spirit about Leverkusen. You simply don't get to this late stage of the season without losing if you don't have true mettle about you.
A big few days await them. Avoid defeat against West Ham at the BayArena on Thursday and it'll be 42 games unbeaten, setting a new record in any UEFA nation this season.
Welsh club The New Saints were 41 without defeat when they lost 2-1 to Airdrieonians in the Scottish Challenge Cup final last month.
For context, Manchester City are currently 26 unbeaten, an impressive run dating back to December 6. But Leverkusen are a whole new level.
They will clinch the Bundesliga title on Sunday with a win over Werder Bremen, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year monopoly.
Patrik Schick has led some remarkable last-gasp salvage missions to keep the unbeaten run
His late heroics against Qarabag set up the Europa League quarter-final against West Ham
The Czech also scored late on as Leverkusen came from behind to stun Hoffenheim
In the final of the DFB-Pokal on May 25, they will begin as strong favourites to beat second division Kaiserslautern. That's three days after a potential Europa League final in Dublin.
With the likes of Liverpool, AC Milan, Roma, Marseille, Atalanta and Benfica still in the
