Gasperini’s Atalanta side seeking to take down undefeated Leverkusen in Europa League Final: ‘They are a team worthy of holding the record they have achieved’

There is quite the challenge ahead in Dublin on Wednesday night for Gian Piero Gasperini and his Atalanta team. In the Europa League Final they face invincible Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen who have yet to lose a match this season – unbeaten in 51 games – and who are chasing an incredible undefeated treble.

The 66-year-old Italian manager recognises the difficulty that faces his side but speaking to the assembled media on Lansdowne Road on the eve of the game he said that his team “will go toe to toe with our opponents”.

His 3-4-3 attacking system shows he is a coach that isn’t wedded to catenaccio. His Atalanta team back in 2020 were the highest scoring side in Serie A since 1952 – banging in 98 goals in their 38 match league campaign.

Since joining the club in 2016, he has led his team to three Coppa Italia finals but they have lost them all – including a 1-0 defeat to Juventus this month.

Reflecting on the challenge ahead of them, Gasperini said: “We need to be conscious we are up against a top side. The statistics speak for themselves in the Bundesliga. They are a very organised side.

"As well as having top players, they are a team with a number of different options in terms of their shape and options in the final third. 

“They are versatile; they defend and counter well. They are a team worthy of holding the record they have achieved. We need to be spot on with our shape and organisation. In a final you need to make sure you come out on top in the big moments.”

His team have qualified for the Champions League for next season and the coach takes comfort from their performances domestically and in Europe. They went unbeaten in the group stages and en-route to the final they had a 3-1 aggregate win over Liverpool in the quarter-final and a 4-1 scoreline in the semi-final against Marseille.

Previously they beat Leverkusen in the 2021/22 Europa League round of 16. That game was over two legs and Gasperini recognises that a one off final adds a complexity to the challenge.

“In Italy and Europe, we’ve played very strong sides and so we have a lot of self confidence and we have acquired that. We played Bayer Leverkusen two years ago but they are a very different team now.

"With a first and second leg, you can get a better grip against your opponents but in a one off final you need to adapt from the first whistle.”

In Gianluca Scamacca he has a striker that can certainly win the Bergamo side the game.

His six goals from ten games in this season’s Europa League campaign have only been bettered by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku (from the beaten semi-finalists Marseilles and Roma respectively).

“Over the last few months Gianluca Scamacca has come on leaps and bounds. Not just in goals but his performance levels.”

Having him available is very important with La Dea full strength in the final third. However, they will be without their captain Martin De Roon. 

We're in the 'Dublin Arena' this evening for the Europa League Final pre-match press conference. We've heard from Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, injured captain Marten de Roon and stand in skipper Berat Djimsiti. Xabi Alonso to come. Up on https://t.co/94rjArrGiR later pic.twitter.com/fHjn8HShB6

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) May 21, 2024