Bayer Leverkusen were the heavy favourites and main event for many heading into this Europa League final. Their former nickname of “Neverkusen”, borne out of the club’s habit of missing out on silverware, had evolved into “Neverlusen” after a run of 51 games unbeaten. Just two finals separated Xabi Alonso’s side from an entire season undefeated: Atalanta in the Europa League and second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup.
Perhaps it’s fitting that Atalanta are nicknamed La Dea – the Goddess – as many felt that they would need divine intervention to overcome this challenge. Their only major trophy had been the Coppa Italia in 1962-63, but that very competition had caused plenty of recent heartbreak with three final defeats in the last six seasons. The most recent of those had come just a week before this final in Dublin, when Dusan Vlahovic’s fourth-minute goal gave Juventus the win.
Even so, La Dea had come through every tough scenario they had faced in the Europa League with aplomb. They topped a group containing Sporting, Sturm Graz and Rakow Czestochowa undefeated. The 2-1 victory and 1-1 draw against Ruben Amorim’s Portuguese champions were repeated when they met again in the round of 16.
They then shocked Anfield – ending Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of winning the Europa League as part of his Liverpool farewell – with a stunning 3-0 victory, making the 1-0 defeat in the return leg inconsequential.
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