Atalanta – Leverkusen: winner Leverkusen

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May 22, 2024

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Our tip: Atalanta – Leverkusen: winner Leverkusen

22.05.2024 21:00

The first of the trio of European Cups will culminate in the Europa League in Dublin, Ireland, where Leverkusen and Atalanta will clash. While Bayer triumphed in the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1988, Bergamo are still waiting for any trophy.

The paper favourite is Leverkusen, who have not lost a single game in 51 competitive matches this season. It has been in trouble many times, but it has always taken the last minute turn. In the home rematch of the eight-final with Qarabag and the semi-final with AS Roma, they were 0-2 down, but saved both games in the 12th hour, goals after the 90th minute being a speciality of Spanish coach Xabi Alonso’s team. The team’s offensive power is enormous, Bayer has scored 135 goals this season and conceded only 39. A win in Dublin would then open the door to the treble for Leverkusen, who face a domestic cup final against second-tier Kaiserslautern in Berlin on Saturday.

Bergamo have already reached the final of the Italian Cup, losing 0-1 to Juventus last week. But Atalanta managed another important game, beating AS Roma in Serie A to secure their place in next season’s Champions League. In the Europa League, they knocked out three tough opponents and especially the quarter-final progression over Liverpool, where they won the opening game 3-0, inspired well-deserved respect. Gianluca Scamacca, who has scored in every round of the play-offs, was instrumental with two goals at Anfield. Bergamo is highly efficient in finishing, averaging 2.8 shots on target per game in Europa League matches.

What to bet on:

Cup finals have their own specifics, with the last three Europa League matches ending in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. The match between two offensive teams may be more cautious than unbiased fans would like. The Czech ones will mostly favour Leverkusen, whose jersey is worn by the trio of compatriots Kovář, Hložek, Schick. That’s why we are slightly leaning towards Bayer.

Confidence:

7/10

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