Leverkusen broke Bayern Munich’s 11-year monopoly in Germany this season, with Xabi Alonso’s team becoming the first team in the Bundesliga’s 61-year history to finish the season unbeaten. They also reached the final of the German Cup.
Their unbeaten run in all competitions this season has earned them Bayer’s nickname ‘Neverlusen’ and Serie A’s Atalanta will have their work cut out for them to try and beat a team that has lost in a European championship record 51 games since August.
Several teams came close to handing Leverkusen their first defeat of the season but, with 17 goals scored in the 90th minute or later, they didn’t give up until the final whistle.
“We were competitive in each and every one of the games, we played well or badly. We played well in most games, but we didn’t give up in the ones we didn’t play well,” Alonso said in a statement. interview with UEFA.
“This says a lot about the commitment of this team when it comes to preparing for the match. We didn’t take any game for granted. “
Like Alonso, coach Gian Piero Gasperini has replaced Atalanta’s fortunes, turning the Bergamo-based club into a ubiquitous club at the European festival since his arrival in 2016.
Atalanta adopts a delicious offensive taste with maximum intensity and coaches such as Pep Guardiola and Maurizio Sarri have compared facing Gasperini’s groups to “going to the dentist. “
“Even if you come out unscathed, you feel the pain,” Sarri once said.
Like Leverkusen, Atalanta will also play in the Champions League next season after finishing in the top five, but they will be hoping to end the season with their first major trophy in 61 years after losing to Juventus in the Coppa Italia final.
Like Alonso, the Dublin match will be Gasperini’s first European final.
“It is a wonderful achievement and a source of satisfaction, achieved with a great season by this total team,” said the 66-year-old Italian.
“Is this the highlight of my career? Yes, in terms of direction and prestige, absolutely. In terms of gratification, fortunately, I got some, although maybe not at the same level. “
While Alonso has a full squad, Atalanta will be without key starters such as midfielder Marten de Roon and defender Sead Kolasinac, while right-back Emil Holm is a doubt.
Leverkusen will be looking to repeat their good fortunes in the 1988 UEFA Cup and a win could see them achieve a rare treble when they face second team Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final. Alonso said such a feat would be “historic. “
“It would be anything written in golden letters, not only in the history of our club but in all of European football,” he added. “I hope we can. “