Atalanta v Bayer Leverkusen

Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview

This season's Europa League final will be played in Dublin at the Aviva Stadium between Italian Serie A outfit, Atalanta, and German Bundesliga side, Bayer Leverkusen, for the right to not only claim some prestigious silverware but also for a place in next season's Champions League qualification as well.

Atalanta registered a 2-0 win away from home at Lecce last time out in the domestic top flight as Gian Piero Gasperini's side bounced back from a 1-0 defeat at home to Juventus in their previous match, while the bigger picture shows that the hosts are heading into this Europa League final in pretty good form.

The Italians have lost just once in their last nine games in all competitions, that being the aforementioned loss to Juventus, but Gasperini's side have also claimed seven wins within this sequence as well which includes notable wins against Fiorentina, Marseille and Roma, so confidence will be high amongst the Italian camp as they make their way over to Ireland for Wednesday night's showdown.

Atalanta finished top of Group D in the group stage of this season's competition, winning four and drawing twice, and then accounted for the likes of Sporting Lisbon 3-2 on aggregate, Liverpool 3-1 and Marseille 4-1 respectively in the knockout rounds.

Bayer Leverkusen will head into this upcoming Europa League final safe in the knowledge that whatever the result here on Wednesday night, the German side will feature in next season's Champions League anyway, courtesy of winning the German Bundesliga title this season at a canter.

Nevertheless, having already claimed the domestic title over the perennial winners, Bayern Munich, and with a 17-point cushion, Bayer Leverkusen will be brimming with confidence in recording a ‘double' in the form of the Europa League crown which would just about top off an amazing campaign.

Even more impressive is the fact that Bayer Leverkusen still remain unbeaten throughout the German Bundesliga campaign, winning 28 and drawing six of their 34 games played to date, while the bigger picture shows Xabi Alonso's side are also unbeaten in each of their previous 55 matches in all competitions which is indeed a staggering record and one which will be tough to beat.

Bayer Leverkusen also finished top of their respective Group H but the Germans went one step better than their Italian counterparts in so much that they registered a 100% winning record, picking up wins in each of their six group games.

Leverkusen then accounted for the likes of Qarabag 5-4 on aggregate, West Ham 3-1 on aggregate and a 4-2 margin over two legs against another Italian club, Roma, in the semi-final.

Atalanta v Bayer Leverkusen Verdict

Two seasons ago, Atalanta recorded a 4-2 win on aggregate against Bayer Leverkusen in the round of last 16 in the Europa League but it's the German club that appears to hold the edge in this upcoming finale.

Therefore, our main bet will be Bayer Leverkusen win @ 1.80

Other side bets worth considering:

Bayer Leverkusen win & Over 2.5 goals @ 2.87

Correct Score: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 @ 8.50