The Europa League final takes centre stage at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, as Bayer Leverkusen put their remarkable 51-game unbeaten run on the line against Atalanta.
Leverkusen are looking to bag another trophy with an unprecedented treble in sight.
Atalanta are also desperate to clinch their first continental title, and this clash of ambition paves the way for a thrilling grand finale in Dublin.
All eyes will be on Xabi Alonso and his Leverkusen side as they aim to rewrite history once again, and you can get your matchday tickets from Seatsnet.com to watch this mouth-watering spectacle unfold live.
Once dubbed “Neverkusen” after a string of near misses in the early 2000s, Leverkusen are emphatically rewriting their narrative.
Struggling near the relegation zone just two years ago, Alonso has orchestrated a phenomenal turnaround at the BayArena.
They conquered the Bundesliga in historic fashion, going unbeaten throughout the campaign to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign of terror and lift the coveted Meisterschale for the first time.
Alonso’s free-flowing attacking side have notched an incredible 135 goals in all competitions while shipping in just 39 and are now on the cusp of an extraordinary treble.
Leverkusen’s resilience is another key ingredient in their success story. Die Werkself have developed an uncanny knack for preserving their unbeaten streak.
Their continental journey could have ended prematurely, but they clawed back from a 2-0 deficit against Qarabag in the last 16 and staged a dramatic comeback against AS Roma in the semi-finals.
Having overcome West Ham United in the quarter-finals and cruised through the group stage with a flawless record, Leverkusen have a shot at becoming only the fourth team to lift the Europa League trophy without a single defeat.
Atalanta are hoping to repeat their 2021/22 Europa League 3-2 victory over Leverkusen. While they fell to a narrow defeat in Germany, they’ll be eager to avoid another loss with the stakes now higher than ever.
Like Leverkusen, Atalanta also finished the group phase unbeaten and eliminated European powerhouses like Sporting CP, Liverpool, and Olympique Marseille en route to Dublin.
They’ll fancy their chances of clinching the title in their first-ever continental final and becoming the first Serie A side to win the Europa League, but they must overcome the unbeaten Leverkusen.
Wednesday’s showpiece event promises a fascinating tactical duel between two highly-rated managers.
Gian Piero Gasperini will be the oldest manager in his first European final, while Leverkusen’s Alonso is the youngest finalist coach since 2012.
Gasperini has transformed Atalanta into European regulars, and they stand on the precipice of history. But the odds are in favour of Alonso’s side, considering his Italian counterpart’s record in finals.
Despite his tactical brilliance, the 66-year-old is yet to lift silverware, and their most recent Coppa Italia final defeat to Juventus underscores his ill luck under the spotlight.
However, they still have what it takes to push Leverkusen to their limits.
They have proven to be a difficult team to overpower in Europe this season, facing just 2.8 shots on target per match – the lowest of any side in the tournament.
Keeping out Alonso’s free-scoring side might be too much to ask, but their defensive solidity could easily be the point of difference in Wednesday’s showpiece.
Gasperini is already a fan favourite in Bergamo but a win in Dublin would not only erase his “nearly-man” label but etch Atalanta’s name into history.
It would be their first major trophy since 1963, a feat that would solidify Gasperini’s legacy as a club legend among the passionate Nerazzurri faithful.
Match Preview
Atalanta are on the cusp of European glory after a record-breaking wait.
Wednesday’s contest marks a culmination of six decades and 261 days since their debut on the European scene – the longest such wait for any team to reach a continental final.
However, that unwanted record will be surpassed next week by Olympiakos in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, with their wait spanning 64 years and 259 days.
Atalanta’s victory would also be a historic one for Italian football.
No Serie A team has ever lifted the Europa League trophy, with past winners hailing from Spain, Portugal, England, or Germany. The last Italian team to win the competition’s predecessor, the UEFA Cup, was Parma in 1999.
Despite their impressive journey, Gasperini’s record in finals is concerning.
His side have lost all three major finals they’ve contested under his leadership, most recently falling 1-0 to Juventus in the Coppa Italia final just last week.
However, Atalanta showed their resilience by bouncing back with a 2-0 win against Lecce in Serie A, securing their Champions League qualification for next season.
They now face a daunting task against a strong Leverkusen side that has refused to succumb to defeat this season with continental glory on the line.
Leverkusen’s 2-1 victory over Augsburg in their final league fixture cemented their place as the first team to ever go unbeaten throughout a Bundesliga campaign.
They have become only the third club in Europe’s top five leagues to achieve the feat in the 21st century, joining Arsenal (2003/04) and Juventus (2011/12) in that exclusive group.
However, the celebrations in Leverkusen are far from over.
This weekend’s triumph marks just the first hurdle in a potential treble-winning season, and they now shift their attention to Wednesday’s showdown against Atalanta.
This accomplishment comes full circle for Leverkusen, who were famously dubbed “Neverkusen” in the 2001/02 season after agonisingly finishing runners-up in the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal.
With Alonso at the helm, the story is different this time around.
The Spaniard, who also featured in Champions League finals as a player with Liverpool in 2005 and 2007, is set to join a prestigious group when he leads Leverkusen into the Europa League final.
He will become only the fourth person this century to both play in and manage a major European final.
The Spanish tactician has orchestrated one of the most remarkable footballing stories in recent memory.
Leverkusen are still unbeaten after 12 Europa League games and could join an exclusive club of champions who lifted the trophy without a single defeat – Chelsea (2018/19), Villarreal (2020/21), and Eintracht Frankfurt (2021/22).
A win in Dublin would undoubtedly be the perfect dress rehearsal for yet another final as they take on Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.
Team news & potential line-ups
Atalanta captain Marten de Roon will miss the final, while Emil Holm and Sead Kolasinac are in a race against time to feature in the showpiece.
Leverkusen are still sweating over the fitness of the mesmerising Florian Wirtz, who is struggling with a thigh problem.
However, he was handed a 30-minute cameo in the win against Augsburg and is in contention to start in the final.
Atalanta potential starting line-up:
(3-4-2-1): Juan Musso; Berat Djimsiti, Isak Hien, Giorgio Scalvini; Davide Zappacosta, Mario Pasalic, Ederson, Matteo Ruggeri; Teun Koopmeiners, Charles De Ketelaere; Gianluca Scamacca.
Bayer Leverkusen potential starting line-up:
(3-4-2-1): Matej Kovar; Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie; Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich, Alejandro Grimaldo; Jonas Hofmann, Florian Wirtz; Patrick Schick.
