Joe Cole believes Bayer Leverkusen would win UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid

Joe Cole explained he would back Bayer Leverkusen to beat the two UEFA Champions League finalists - Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund - after progressing to the UEFA Europa League final.

Xabi Alonso’s side remain on course for an unbeaten treble following a 4-2 aggregate victory over Roma, recovering from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 on the night thanks to Josip Stanisic's equaliser.

The result took their unbeaten run to 49 games - now the outright European record after surpassing Benfica’s total of 48 matches.

They will now face Atalanta in the final of Europe’s secondary competition in Dublin on May 22, but Cole believes they have the talent to win the continent’s biggest prize.

“That man in the picture [Xabi Alonso], what he's done with this team is incredible,” he told TNT Sports.

“Any problem that comes to them on the football pitch, they find the solution. If a game gets ugly, they can do that too.

“Look at the celebrations and what it means to keep that unbeaten run going. What we're seeing is an incredible feat, and I said to Owen Hargreaves that if they were playing in the Champions League final, I think I would back them against either of those teams.

“They're so impressive; they've won the German league at a canter and walked to the final of the Europa League.

“Roma were outstanding defensively, showed resilience and did everything they could, but they were just miles off it in terms of what this Leverkusen team can do. It's a fantastic achievement.”

Alonso's men will aim to extend their undefeated streak to a 50th game when they play away at Bochum on May 12, before hosting Augsburg six days later.

They then head to the Republic of Ireland capital for the Europa League final, which comes three days ahead of the German Cup final against second-tier Kaiserslautern.

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