Real Madrid broke Barcelona’s record unbeaten run in extraordinary circumstances thanks to a 3-3 draw with Sevilla in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
Karim Benzema’s last-gasp effort in an enthralling contest saw Zinedine Zidane’s side reach the 40-game mark without defeat.
They are now clear on their own at the top of that particular Spanish roll of honour, having edged ahead of their eternal rivals from Camp Nou.
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We have set a new record in Spanish football – 40 matches unbeaten!#RealMadrid #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/hI6YPE1QHJ— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) January 12, 2017
Barcelona went 39 games unbeaten between October 2015 and March 2016, as they swept to La Liga and Copa del Rey crowns.
They collected 32 victories and seven draws during that run, before Real brought it to an abrupt halt with a 2-1 Clasico victory.
Zidane’s side lost their next outing to Wolfsburg in the Champions League, but have not come undone since then.
40 – Real Madrid have surpassed the best ever unbeaten run by a La Liga side in all competitions (30W 10D). Legend pic.twitter.com/Gj3hQYlxG7
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 12, 2017