Europa League Final | Atalanta vs Leverkusen | Match thread

[SilentWitness]

Location: Republic of Ireland's Dublin Arena

Kick off: 8pm UK time.

Where to watch: TNT Sports or Discovery+

Line-ups

Atalanta XI: Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Scamacca.

Bayer Leverkusen XI: Kovar, Tapsoba, Tah, Stanisic, Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Hincapie, Wirtz, Grimaldo, Adli.

Odds

Atalanta win 16/5

Draw 27/10

Bayer Leverkusen win 4/5​

 

[reddyornot]

Liverpool fans have a few spare tickets.

 

[Bogga]

Always had a soft spot for Leverkusen, it's time for them to make up for the 01/02-season when they ended 2nd in everything. Must've been especially rough for the german Leverkusen fans back in 02

 

[SilentWitness]

Always had a soft spot for Leverkusen, it's time for them to make up for the 01/02-season when they ended 2nd in everything. Must've been especially rough for the german Leverkusen fans back in 02

I think they'll do it but I also think it could be a high scoring game.

 

[McGrathsipan]

Liverpool fans have a few spare tickets.

I bought 3 tickets yesterday for €65 each.

Looking forward to the show. My two lads are football mad so they are buzzing.

Compare that price to 300 for 3 tickets for a poxy United friendly last pre season.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Come on Atalanta!
Would love it if Gasperini were to get his hands on a major trophy. The football he's got Atalanta playing over the years has been a breath of fresh air.

 

[stefan92]

Bayer Leverkusen XI: Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Adil, Wirtz; Boniface.​

They will definitely start with Kovar in goal, Alonso confirmed that (as they did for the whole season in the EL)
It's also possible that they start Palacios instead of Andrich.
Depending on the tactical setup they could also play with a false nine, that would move Adli up top instead of Boniface and most likely see Hofmann play alongside Wirtz.

 

[SilentWitness]

They will definitely start with Kovar in goal, Alonso confirmed that (as they did for the whole season in the EL)
It's also possible that they start Palacios instead of Andrich.
Depending on the tactical setup they could also play with a false nine, that would move Adli up top instead of Boniface and most likely see Hofmann play alongside Wirtz.

Changed Kovar, I saw it on another site and just wanted to have a more interesting OP.

 

[stefan92]

Changed Kovar, I saw it on another site and just wanted to have a more interesting OP.

Shouldn't Kovar be more interesting than Hradecky on a United forum anyway?

 

[duffer]

Why do I kinda want Leverkusen to lose?

I think I'm just a bad person.

 

[Lay]

Atalanta lost a final last week. They'll most likely lose another

 

[GoonerBear]

The Europa League often gets looked down on, but I actually really like how open it is as a competition.

I know Sevilla have won a few of them but teams like the 2 finalists this year, Frankfurt, Rangers, Villareal, Ajax etc can go into it knowing if they play well and have a bit of luck, they have a chance of going a long way, whereas in the Champions League these teams would rarely make it to a quarter final, and you can almost predict 6 or 7 of the quarter finalists at the group stage.

Looking forward to this game, surely will be goals in it with the football these 2 teams play.

 

[aeh1991]

Best scenario would be if Kovar plays well and becomes their no.1 for the next season. In 2 years he should come back via buyback clause and replace Onana.

 

[giorno]

They will definitely start with Kovar in goal, Alonso confirmed that (as they did for the whole season in the EL)
It's also possible that they start Palacios instead of Andrich.
Depending on the tactical setup they could also play with a false nine, that would move Adli up top instead of Boniface and most likely see Hofmann play alongside Wirtz.

Against Atalanta you want to play your best 1vs1 players. The false 9 scheme doesn't work against them, they just man mark everyone all over the pitch

Boniface will start

 

[stefan92]

Against Atalanta you want to play your best 1vs1 players. The false 9 scheme doesn't work against them, they just man mark everyone all over the pitch

Boniface will start

Probably, I just mentioned it as a possibility. In the end it comes down to the question: Do you want to beat them with speed (Adli) or strength (Boniface)? Atalanta will defend a lot 1v1 anyway.

 

[giorno]

Probably, I just mentioned it as a possibility. In the end it comes down to the question: Do you want to beat them with speed (Adli) or strength (Boniface)? Atalanta will defend a lot 1v1 anyway.

Why not both? As I said, the key is mismatches, you want to create as many as you can in your favour

 

[top1whoisman]

Best scenario would be if Kovar plays well and becomes their no.1 for the next season. In 2 years he should come back via buyback clause and replace Onana.

I’d say the best scenario would be Onana improving and becoming a United legend.

 

[hasanejaz88]

What the feck is this lineup from Alonso. Grimaldo playing as an attacking midfielder with Wirtz and no striker (though he did the same in the two legs against Roma).

Going a bit too defensive today and maybe overthinking, hopefully it doesn't kick them in the arse.

 

[top1whoisman]

What the feck is this lineup from Alonso. Grimaldo playing as an attacking midfielder with Wirtz and no striker (though he did the same in the two legs against Roma).

Going a bit too defensive today and maybe overthinking, hopefully it doesn't kick them in the arse.

To be fair he’s done alright this season with his decisions.

 

[SilentWitness]

Atalanta XI: Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Scamacca.

Bayer Leverkusen XI: Kovar, Tapsoba, Tah, Stanisic, Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Hincapie, Wirtz, Grimaldo, Adli.

 

[Berbaclass]

Atalanta XI: Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Scamacca.

Bayer Leverkusen XI: Kovar, Tapsoba, Tah, Stanisic, Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Hincapie, Wirtz, Grimaldo, Adli.

Can't work out who plays where with the extra defender. surely not Hincapie at LWB?

 

[stefan92]

Can't work out who plays where with the extra defender. surely not Hincapie at LWB?

Hincapie as LCB, Grimaldo as usual LWB, Frimpong RW ahead of Stanisic as RWB would make sense.

 

[sherrinford]

Can't work out who plays where with the extra defender. surely not Hincapie at LWB?

Stanisic right wingback, Frimpong right wing.

 

[The Stain]

This could be a cracking game with lots of goals. I'm on team Atalanta.

 

[klayton88]

I’d say the best scenario would be Onana improving and becoming a United legend.

Best scenario would be big Pete catching the Benjamin Button disease.

 

[Morty_]

Reckon it will be the most difficult test for Leverkusen this season.

 

[always_hoping]

Now I know Leverkusen are on unbeaten and all that but If in it Liverpool would be favourites for tonight's Europa league final yet you can get odds of 7/2 for Atalanta who beat Liverpool 3-0 in Anfield. A bit of value in those odds?

 

[giorno]

I think Xabi fecked up

 

[FujiVice]

So when are Leverkusen scoring the winner? 96th or 97th minute?

 

[Berbaclass]

Now I know Leverkusen are on unbeaten and all that but If in it Liverpool would be favourites for tonight's Europa league final yet you can get odds of 7/2 for Atalanta who beat Liverpool 3-0 in Anfield. A bit of value in those odds?

I had a free bet to use. Went Atalanta & BTTS 6/1

 

[marktan]

Might actually watch this, haven't seen Leverkusen this season so curious to see them.

But I'm rooting for Atlanta, I'm a fan of Lookman so hoping he does well.

 

[Unam333]

Rooting for Atalanta as well.

 

[SilentWitness]

Can't watch it for free this year on Youtube. Instead it's free on Discovery+. Just sign up with an account.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Predictions on what time Leverkusen will score the winner?

I'll go 97:23

 

[Lyricist]

Can't work out who plays where with the extra defender. surely not Hincapie at LWB?

Defensive solidity with one defensive wingback.

--------------Wirtz-------Adli------Frimpong
Grimaldo-----Xhaka-----Palacios----Stanisic
----------Hincapié------Tah-----Tapsoba
----------------------------Kovar

 

[mu4c_20le]

Wow 8 defenders. Xabi building a great wall.

 

[90 + 5min]

Would be nice if Bergamo could celebrate tonight. I’m giving them a chance tonight.

 

[izec]

Adli as a striker is weird. Should have gone for a proper 9 and Adli/Tella RW, Frimpong RWB.

Xabi doing a Pep in the final and overthinking?

 

[Berbaclass]

Surprised no Boniface

 

[Offside]

Atalanta on pens.