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Atalanta in Dublin for the Europa League Final match against Bayer Leverkusen 22/05/2024
Europa League: Leverkusen challenges Atalanta in the final
In Dublin, Bayer Leverkusen will try to win their second title of the year after that of German champion.
After lifting the Bundesliga champion bowl last Saturday against Augsburg, the Xabi Alonso gang would like to hang a second trophy on their hunt this season, namely the Europa League.
A competition during which Bayer Leverkusen demonstrated the same qualities as in the championship: shimmering football, and above all, a desire to never give up, as shown by the goals in added time against Qarabag, West Ham or even AS Rome.
Bayer therefore knows perfectly well what awaits it this evening, as Xabi Alonso explained at a press conference.
"We have shown throughout the season that we are able to respond during major events and it will be no different in this final. We have respect for Atalanta, but we have confidence in our qualities, in our mentality, with our state of mind, we are able to get this trophy,” assured the Spanish technician.
Atalanta has strengths
If Bayer Leverkusen is the favorite in this final, it will have to be wary of this Atalanta team, which has played the leading roles in Italy for several seasons.
The club from the city of Bergamo which has just lost in the Italian Cup final against Juve, and which also lost its captain Marten de Roon to injury.
"I'm disappointed that Marten de Roon isn't in the game. He's someone who deserves to be on the pitch, he's given so much to Atalanta. It's sad that he's missing a European final ", said coach Gian Piero Gasperin.
"We have some regrets after this final lost to Juventus (in the Italian Cup). But now we are going to play another final, with a very nice trophy in our sights. This is not the time to be find excuses,” he added.
Atalanta-Bayer Leverkusen is tonight, from 7 p.m. universal time.