Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday evening as the two teams look to crown impressive seasons with European success.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen will start as favourites in Dublin after being crowned German champions for the first time this season, as the Bundesliga winners look to complete an entire season without defeat.
Atalanta, however, will be no easy task for Leverkusen and the Italians continue to exceed expectations under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Here is everything you need to know about the Europa League final.
Form
Atalanta: WWWLW
Atalanta head into the final in fine form after another outstanding season under the management of the brilliant Gian Piero Gasperini. La Dea continue to punch above their weight, establishing a reputation as one of European football’s great overachievers in recent seasons.
A first European final awaits Atalanta this week as the club looks to win only their second major trophy and first since Coppa Italia success in 1963. Gasperini has kept Atalanta competing at the top end of Serie A on far fewer resources than divisional rivals but will hope to crown what has been a memorable period with silverware success. Atalanta lost the Coppa Italia final to Juventus earlier this month, their second defeat in the Italian Cup decider in the last four seasons.
Atalanta fans put out a banner for their Captain, Marten de Roon, because he’s crushed that he will be missing the Europa League final due to injury.
It reads:
“Commitment, sacrifice and your shirt always full of sweat. De Roon, you already won your trophy.”
Class act ???? pic.twitter.com/msoMKUTr5k
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) May 21, 2024
A five-game winning run has put Atalanta in pole position to secure Champions League qualification in Serie A, while their form in the Europa League has been impressive, eliminating tournament favourites Liverpool in the quarter-finals, before a 4-1 aggregate win over Marseille in the last four.
Gianluca Scamacca has found his form after a difficult spell at West Ham with 18 goals in all competitions, including five in his last six league appearances.
Bayer Leverkusen: WWDWW
Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run just keeps on rolling and the Germans became the first team in Bundesliga history to complete an entire league season without defeat at the weekend. It’s been a staggering achievement for Xabi Alonso in his first full season in charge, as Die Werkself have shed their unwanted “Neverkusen’ tag spectacularly.
An incredible, historic, unbeaten treble is within sight for Alonso as his team prepares for the Europa League and DFB-Pokal finals in the coming days.
Leverkusen are looking to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League for the second time after previous success in 1988 and could become only the fourth team to win the trophy without losing a game.
Tomorrow. All in. #ForOurDream. ????#ATAB04 | #Bayer04 #UELfinal #aCROSSeurope pic.twitter.com/qZzzPfO4Hw
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 21, 2024
The Germans have scored 135 goals and counting in all competitions this season, including several last-gasp goals to continue their undefeated charge.
Florian Wirtz has been a driving force in Leverkusen’s season and the 21-year-old has been named Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2023/24.
Last Meeting
Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta, Europa League Round of 16, 17/03/2022
The two teams have met in European competition just once before in a two-legged Europa League tie during the 2021/22 campaign.
Atalanta won both legs to progress to the quarter-finals, winning an entertaining contest 3-2 in Italy before securing a 1-0 win in Germany a week later. Former Chelsea youngster Jeremie Boga scored the decisive goal in stoppage time at the BayArena to seal Le Dea’s place in the next round.
Predicted Lineups
Atalanta: Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Scalvini; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere; Scamacca.
Bayer Leverkusen: Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Boniface.
Who is the referee?
István Kovács (Romania)
What channel is Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen on?
Viewers in the UK and Ireland can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1.
What time is kick-off?
20:00 BST, Wednesday May 22nd 2024, Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
Odds
Atalanta – 10/3
Draw – 11/4
Bayer Leverkusen – 4/5
Read – Five of the most memorable Europa League Finals
See more – The games that defined Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title success
