After last week’s semi-final second legs, we now know the finalists of all European football’s biggest tournaments and up first is the Europa League Final.
Contesting the game will be Serie A side Atalanta, who defeated Marseille comfortably in their semi-final. They will be facing Bayer Leverkusen, the new Bundesliga champions and a team that remain unbeaten over the duration of the entire season; 50 games at the time of writing.
It promises to be an intriguing final as the veteran Italian coach Gian Paolo Gasparini will seek to defeat Xabi Alonso’s seemingly unbeatable Leverkusen side. With both coaches favouring an open, attacking style of play, this should be a very entertaining game.
Outlined below is our preview of the final, together with details of both teams and finally, the tips we’d back for the final with our reliable betting provider, bet365 Sport.
Last year’s final saw Sevilla defeat AS Roma, to win their seventh Europa League title.
Europa League Final 2024 Details
- Finalists: Atalanta v Bayer Leverkusen
- Date: Wednesday 22nd May
- Kick Off: 8pm (UK Time)
- Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
- Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
The 51,711-capacity Aviva Stadium was built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road Stadium. Not only replacing the previous stadium but also taking its place as the home of the Irish Rugby Union and Republic of Ireland football team. Leinster Rugby Club also play its home matches at the ground.
It is the only category 4 rated stadium in Ireland and has held the Europa League Final once before, back in 2011 when FC Porto defeated Braga 1-0 in the final.
The stadium will also be a host venue for the 2028 European Championships, which is set to take place in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Latest Betting Odds
You can back the teams in the Full Time Result market with bet365 Sport at the following odds:
- Atlanta to win – 4.33
- Draw – 4.00
- Bayer Leverkusen to win – 1.83
Additionally, you can also back either of the two teams to lift the trophy at the following odds with bet365.
- Atalanta – 3.00
- Bayer Leverkusen – 1.40
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You can check out our three tips for the Europa League Final at the foot of this article. But now, let’s examine the two teams competing for the famous trophy in more detail.
Atalanta In Detail
Atalanta currently lie in 5th place in Serie A, good enough for a Champions League place next season, but if they falter, they can still qualify for the tournament by winning this trophy.
It has been a fabulous season for the club as they are not only in the top five in Serie A, but also the Coppa Italia final (against Juventus), as well as the Europa League final. However, despite this excellent form, they come into this game very much as the underdogs due to the season their opponents in the Europa League Final are having.
Let’s take a closer look at Gian Piero Gasparini’s men.
Atalanta Squad
Goalkeepers
- 1. Juan Musso
- 29. Mario Carnesecchi
- 31. Francesco Rossi
Defenders
- 2. Rafael Toloi (DC)
- 4. Isak Hien (DC)
- 6. Jose Luis Palomino (DC)
- 19. Berat Djimsiti (DC)
- 23. Sead Kolasinac (DC)
- 42. Giorgio Scalvini (DC)
- 43. Giovanni Bonfanti (DC)
Midfielders
- 3. Emil Holm (DMR)
- 7. Teun Koopmeiners (AMC)
- 8. Mario Pasalic (MC)
- 13. Ederson (MC)
- 15. Marten De Roon (DMC)
- 17. Charles De Ketelaer (AMRC)
- 20. Mitchell Bakker (DML)
- 22. Matteo Ruggeri (DML)
- 25. Michel Adopo (MC)
- 33. Hans Hateboer (DMR)
- 59. Aleksey Miranchuk (AMC)
- 77. Davide Zappacosta (DMR)
Attackers
- 10. El Bilal Toure (AC)
- 11. Ademola Lookman (AMC)
- 90. Gianluca Scamacca (AC)
Manager
How Atalanta Reached The Europa League Final
Group Stage – Group D Results
- V Rakow Czestochowa – W 2-0 – De Ketelaere (49), Ederson (66)
- V Sporting Lisbon (A) – W 2-1 – Scalvini (33), Ruggeri (43)
- V Sturm Graz (A) – D 2-2 – Muriel (34. 45+7)
- V Sturm Graz (H) – W 1-0 – Djimsiti (50)
- V Sporting Lisbon (H) – D 1-1 – Scamacca (23)
- V Rakow Czestochowa (A) – W 4-0 – Muriel (14,72), Bonfanti (26), De Ketelaere (90+2)
Group Stage – Group D Table
- Atalanta – 14pts
- Sporting – 11pts
- Sturm Graz – 4 pts
- Rakow Czestochowa – 4pts
Playoff Round
- Qualified directly to the Round of 16 by winning their group.
Round of 16
- V Sporting Lisbon (A) – D 1-1 – Scamacca (39)
- V Sporting Lisbon (H) – W 2-1 (3-2) – Lookman (46), Scamacca (59)
Quarter-Finals
- V Liverpool (A) – W 3-0 – Scamacca (38,60), Pasalic (83)
- V Liverpool (H) – L 0-1 (3-1)
Semi-Finals
- V Marseille (A) – D 1-1 – Scamacca (11)
- V Marseille (H) – W 3-0 (4-1) – Lookman (30), Ruggeri (52), Toure (90+4)
- Serie A – Currently 5th with 3 games of the season to go.
- Coppa Italia – Finalists (v Juventus to be played Wed 15th May)
Atalanta Probable Starting XI
Although you can never rule out a tactical surprise, Atalanta will likely line up in their preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.
- GK – 1. Juan Musso
- DMR – 77. Davide Zappacosta
- DML – 22. Matteo Ruggeri
- DC – 42. Giorgio Scalvini
- DC – 4. Isak Hien
- DC – 19. Berat Djimsiti
- MC – 13. Ederson
- MC – 15. Marten de Roon
- AMC – 7. Teun Koopmeiners
- AMC – 17. Charles De Ketelaere
- AC – 90. Gianluca Scamacca
Atalanta Key Man – Gianluca Scamacca
The former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca has become a talisman in the Europa League with six goals in his last eight games in the competition. He will have to be needle-sharp to take any chances that come his way against this talented Leverkusen team.
Bayer Leverkusen In Detail
With just three games of the season remaining, Bayer Leverkusen are on the brink of something very special – a perfect undefeated season winning all three competitions they entered in the process.
Xabi Alonso’s team wrapped up the Bundesliga title several weeks ago and face Koln in the DFB Pokal Final the weekend following this Europa League Final against Atalanta. With 50 games unbeaten behind them this season, can they complete the season undefeated and with a trio of honours?
Bayer Leverkusen Squad
Goalkeepers
- 1. Lukas Hradecky
- 17. Matej Kovar
- 36. Niklas Lomb
Defenders
- 2. Josip Stanisic (DC)
- 3. Piero Hincapie (DC)
- 4. Jonathan Tah (DC)
- 6. Odilon Kossounou (DC)
- 12. Edmond Tapsoba (DC)
- 13. Arthur (DR)
- 20. Alejandro Grimaldo (DML)
- 24. Timothy Fosu-Mensah (DR)
- 31. Madi Monamay (DC)
Midfielders
- 7. Jonas Hofmann (AMR)
- 8. Robert Andrich (DMC)
- 10. Florian Wirtz (AMC)
- 18. Noah Mbamba (DMC)
- 25. Ezequiel Palacios (MC)
- 30. Jeremie Frimpong (DMR)
- 32. Gustavo Puerta (MC)
- 34. Granit Xhaka (DMC)
- 47. Ayman Aourir (AMC)
Attackers
- 9. Borja Iglesias (AC)
- 14. Patrick Schick (AC)
- 19. Nathan Tella (AMR)
- 21. Amine Adli (AML)
- 22. Victor Boniface (AC)
- 23. Adam Hlozek (AC)
Manager
How Bayer Leverkusen Reached The Europa League Final
Group Stage – Group H Results
- V BK Hacken (H) – W 4-0 – Wirtz (10), Adli (16), Boniface (66), Hofmann (70)
- V Molde (A) – W 2-1 – Frimpong (14), Tella (18)
- V Qarabag (H) – W 5-1 – Wirtz (4), Grimaldo (29,54), Boniface (35), Tapsoba (57)
- V Qarabag (A) – W 1-0 – Boniface (90+4)
- V BK Hacken (A) – W 2-0 – Boniface (14), Schick (74)
- V Molde (H) – W 5-1 – Schick (6), Tapsoba (22), Ellingsen (25 og), Hlozek (60,70)
Group Stage – Group H Table
- Bayer Leverkusen – 18 pts
- Qarabag FK – 10 pts
- Molde – 7 pts
- BK Hacken – 0 pts
Playoff Round
- Qualified directly to the Round of 16 by winning their group.
Round of 16
- V Qarabag (A) – D 2-2 – Wirtz (70), Schick (90+2)
- V Qarabag (H) – W 3-2 (5-4) – Frimpong (72), Schick (90+3, 90+7)
Quarter-Finals
- V West Ham (H) – W 2-0 – Hofmann (83), Boniface (90+1)
- V West Ham (A) – D 1-1 (3-1) – Frimpong (89)
Semi-Finals
- V AS Roma (A) – W 2-0 – Wirtz (28), Andrich (73)
- V AS Roma (H) – D 2-2 (4-2) – Mancini (82 og), Stanisic (90+7)
- Bundesliga – Champions, unbeaten in all 33 Bundesliga games played so far ahead of the final week of the season.
- DFK Pokal – Unbeaten and Finalists and will face FC Koln in the final in Berlin on 25th May.
Bayer Leverkusen Probable Starting XI
Bayer Leverkusen have switched formations over the season but the 3-4-2-1 formation seems to be the most likely to be used for this Europa League Final clash.
- GK – 17. Matej Kovar
- DMR – 30. Jeremie Frimpong
- DML – 20. Alex Grimaldo
- DC – 4. Jonathan Tah
- DC – 3. Piero Hincapie
- DC – 12. Edmond Tapsoba
- MC – 34. Granit Xhaka
- MC – 25. Exequiel Palacios
- AMC – 10. Florian Wirtz
- AMC – 23. Adam Hlozek
- AC – 22. Victor Boniface
Bayer Leverkusen Key Man – Alex Grimaldo
The Spanish left back Alex Grimaldo has been sensational since signing from Benfica. He has 17 assists in all competitions this season, as well as 12 goals, all from full-back. He will likely be a key source of chances created for the new German champions.
Europa League Final 2024 – Our Three Top Betting Picks
Having previewed both teams and players competing in the Europa League Final, here are our top three betting picks for the match.
Odds as always were courtesy of bet365 Sport and were correct at the time of writing.
- Full Time Result – Bayer Leverkusen (1.83)
- Result & BTTS – Bayer Leverkusen & Yes (3.75)
- Correct Score – Atalanta 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen (8.50)
Remember to tune in to TNT Sports to watch the culmination of the second-biggest European competition and perhaps witness a rare moment in football history. A true, unbeaten in all competitions, undefeated season.
