UEFA Europa League: Atalanta x Bayer Leverkusen, Match Preview, Odds and Predictions(22/05/2024)

This year, after being runners-up five times before, Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga championship. Should they win the Europa League final and defeat Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday, May 25, they would have the opportunity to accomplish a trifecta.

The success of this year is quite different from Leverkusen's historic 2001–2002 season, in which they placed second in the Bundesliga and were runners-up in the German Cup and UEFA Champions League. Their recent 2-2 tie in the second leg of the semi-final against Roma extended their unbeaten run to 50 games. The team's tremendous determination under Xabi Alonso's direction is evident in their many crucial late goals.

A formidable Atalanta team, who are playing at a different pace than their Serie A opponents and gleaming in the UEFA Europa League—forwards Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca have been at their best when it counts—stands in their path. Although they are unbeaten this season, Leverkusen will have a tough challenge.

Atalanta x Bayer Leverkusen team news

Due to separate injury problems, Emil Holm and former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac missed the Coppa Italia final last week. Atalanta will once again be without them on Wednesday night. Nevertheless, Teun Koopmeiners, 26, should return to action today after serving a one-match ban against Lecce over the weekend.

With six goals in ten Europa League games this season and a never-ending stream of accolades, Italy international Gianluca Scamacca will lead La Dea's attack in Dublin. Juan Musso should remain between the sticks as Atalanta's first option for this year's European trip.

Before their historic Wednesday night journey to Dublin, Bayer Leverkusen has declared a clean bill of health with no new bans or injury worries. German star Florian Wirtz, who made a timely comeback from a slight injury against Augsburg over the weekend and gained a half-hour cameo under his belt, will be a key player in Ireland.

Now that he has scored in three straight Bundesliga games, Nigerian forward Victor Boniface will be looking to lead Alonso's attack tonight. Given a well-earned break on Saturday afternoon, former Arsenal player Granit Xhaka will undoubtedly return in full here and team up with Exequiel Palacios in the centre of Leverkusen's midfield.

Head To Head And Previous Matches

First up, Atalanta. Despite their 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the Coppa Italia final last week, La Dea has been going through a nasty patch over the previous month. 

Gian Piero Gasperini's team will look forward to their Wednesday night journey to Dublin after returning to winning ways over the weekend and gaining some ideal momentum with a 2-0 win away at Lecce. Since causing a massive shock in the Europa League last month by defeating English giants Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate, Atalanta has won four of their past five games in all competitions. 

The Bergamo-based team, which has only lost one of their past nine consecutive games, will also be looking forward to their most recent encounter against Leverkusen. They defeated the German champions 4-2 on aggregate in March 2022, so Gasperini will be anxious for his team to pull off another shock tonight.

As for Bayer Leverkusen, who have already established themselves as Europe's most extensive surprise package by sailing to their first Bundesliga championship this season, unbelievably unbeaten in any tournament and proving they are the best team in the country, Xabi Alonso's team is now just 90 minutes away from being declared double champions. 

The former Real Madrid midfielder finds the atmosphere in his camp at an epic high as they wrap off their Bundesliga fairytale with a 2-1 win at home against Augsburg over the weekend. With their thrilling 4-2 aggregate win against Roma earlier in the month, Leverkusen booked their place in the Europa League final of this season and have since established a terrifying reputation around the continent. 

Likewise, having won their past three games away from the BayArena by an aggregate score of 12-1, Alonso will look to his record-breaking team to make one more heavyweight statement.

Our Predictions

Bayer Leverkusen to win @1.83 on Sky247.ng

Even if Atalanta may have continued to live out a true Europa League fantasy this season, La Dea will be up against a formidable opponent when they go to Dublin on Wednesday night. With Bayer Leverkusen relishing a fantastic fairytale this season, the German trailblazers are just 90 minutes away from creating even more history here. Midweek could see Alonso's team proclaimed double winners after cruising to their first Bundesliga championship without losing a single game in any tournament this season.

Both teams to score @1.78 on Sky247.ng

Given that the Bundesliga produced two Champions League semi-finalists this season, Leverkusen is unquestionably the best team in Germany. But unlike the one Atalanta will provide, their trip to Dublin hasn't offered a test.

Before rejoining the Azerbaijani team in a 5-4 aggregate victory in the last 16, Leverkusen won a group that included Hacken, Molde and Qarabag. On route, they defeated West Ham and Roma, two clubs who often set up with a defensive first strategy.

Atalanta is a different team; they take chances on their arduous road to the final, which pays off for them. Before defeating Sporting, the Portuguese champions, 3-2 in the round of 16, they had to top their group. They overcame Liverpool, the favourites, 3-0 at Anfield and, after overcoming Marseille 4-1 on aggregate, faced the intensity of the Velodrome. La Dea will take the game to the German champs; they have nothing to fear.

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