Dublin Set for Europa League Party

Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen

Wednesday night in Dublin is one of those occasions which is tailor-made for football.

The fact the 2024 Europa League Final is also the setting for a clash between two of football’s underdogs only adds to the spectacle.

In truth, I will feel sorry for whoever is defeated in this showpiece because both sides have been terrific this season.

 

Talking Points

In fact, Bayer Leverkusen have been quite brilliant and are two games from going through an entire season undefeated.

German champions for the first time in their history, they are currently 51 matches unbeaten and now have this final and the German Cup Final to complete an illustrious season for the record books.

As they prepare to contest only their third ever European final, their opponents, Atalanta, are gearing up for their first.

They have also been highly impressive this term. With two games remaining, they lie fifth in Serie A but, win both those contests, and they will be guaranteed to finish third.

They have reached this showpiece courtesy of some superb performances, none more so than an emphatic 3-0 win at Liverpool against a side who were then considered favourites to win the tournament.

While much has been said the brilliant work of Xabi Alonso, Italians will tell you about the quietly unassuming but incredibly effective Gian Piero Gasperini over the last few years.

That has included reaching last week’s Coppa Italia Final, which they lost 1-0 to Juventus, and three third place finishes in Serie A.

Indeed, since taking charge in 2016, Gasperini has overseen the most successful period in Atalanta’s history, including three Coppa Final defeats in 2019, 2021, and last week.

At the weekend, they bounced back from their Coppa defeat with a 2-0 Serie A win over Lecce, Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere scoring as they secured a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.

If they can win their first and only piece of silverware since the 1963 Coppa Italia, Atalanta will be the toast of many.

At the age of 66 years and 117 days, Gasperini will become the oldest coach to take charge of his first major European final, and the oldest overall since Jupp Heynckes led Bayern Munich to glory in the 2013 Champions League final (68 years, 16 days).

Interestingly, his counterpart in the opposite dugout, Alonso, will be the youngest coach (42 years and 179 days) to manage a European final since Roberto Di Matteo oversaw Chelsea’s victory in the 2012 Champions League final at the age of 41 years and 356 days, beating Heynckes’ Bayern.

For those who love an interesting stat, Alonso will also become just the fourth person to play in and manage in a major European final this century.

The one-time Liverpool midfielder played for the Merseysiders in the 2005 and 2007 Champions League final.

He will join the likes of Zinedine Zidane who starred for Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final (against Leverkusen) and then managed them in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 showpieces.

Antonio Conte played for Juventus in the 2003 Champions League showpiece and coached Inter for the 2020 Europa League final, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst achieved the feat as a Barcelona player (2006 Champions League) and Rangers boss (2022 Europa League).

So, there are your stats. The scene is now set for a final between two enterprising and attractive teams with two fine managers.

It’s time to head to the Emerald Isle for Europa League 2024 highlights.

 

History

This will be only the third ever meeting between the two.

They did clash in the last 16 of the competition two seasons ago when the Italians came out on top.

They first edged a five-goal thriller at home in Bergamo.

Trailing to a Charles Aránguiz opener, two goals in three minutes from Ruslan Malinovskiy, and Luis Muriel turned it around as he grabbed his second four minutes after the restart.

Moussa Diaby pulled one back for the German side just after the hour mark, and it was all lined up for a thrilling second leg, but Atalanta quashed German hopes and a last minute Jeremie Boga goal sealed a 4-2 aggregate success.

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Europa League 2024 betting odds back the unbeaten Germans and you can see why.

They are on offer 1X2 @ 1.79 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.08 and -1.00 @ 2.58.

Atalanta are attractively priced 1X2 @ 3.83 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.09 with the draw priced @ 3.32.

In one sense, I am leaning towards for Leverkusen who are super confident, while Atalanta will still be smarting from their final defeat last week yet that could make them more determined.

It really is too close to call and my bet is there will be a goal-fest in Dublin.

   

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