Europa League Final Liveblog: Atalanta vs. Bayer Leverkusen | OneFootball

Football Italia Live Blog

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Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the Europa League Final, where Atalanta try to win their first UEFA trophy against record-breaking unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen.

It kicks off in Dublin at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

Both teams have already qualified for the Champions League next season, but if Atalanta win here and finish fifth – but not higher – in the Serie A table, then sixth in Italy will also enter the tournament.

If the tie is level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and even penalties.

2024-05-22 13:22:49

That is all for the Liveblog, check the main site for more post-match coverage.

We just saw footage of a man in Bergamo driving past waving a leafblower out the window, so probably time to call it a night.

2024-05-22 23:01:35

Ederson

“I am so happy, I also got a call-up for Brazil and now the Europa League, it’s incredible. We had remarkable performances against Liverpool, Marseille, we knew how Bayer Leverkusen were, but we came here with the intention to be aggressive and gave our all,” Ederson told Sky Sport Italia.

“This medal is amazing, it can never be described with words. We have become immortal. We are in the history of Atalanta.”

Ederson seemed to be everywhere this evening and made several crucial blocks on Jeremie Frimpong in full flight.

“He is very quick, I might not seem that fast, but when I need to… I let him start first so I could see if he was going to run straight or diagonal, then I managed to cut him off. I had to use a bit of experience there.

“The coach told me to be more aggressive, as I had some pace and power, so I needed to use those characteristics more. This season, I got a more used to the high press, so I was able to be more attacking too and added that to my game as well.”

2024-05-22 22:42:30

Robert Andrich to RTL

“I would have preferred it to have been some unimportant game. It’s extremely tough to take but we have to be honest with ourselves. It was deserved today, so we have to go out with our heads held high and congratulate Atalanta. They definitely deserved it more than us today.”

2024-05-22 22:37:02

Granit Xhaka to RTL

“Honestly, we’re not interested in the unbeaten record. We didn’t care about that from the start. It’s about the game and unfortunately we lost a final today. That’s football. We said yesterday that it would be a difficult game. Compliments to Atalanta.”

2024-05-22 22:36:32

2024-05-22 22:31:45

Berat Djimsiti

“It’s hard to find the words at this moment, I can hardly realise what we did. Such a huge success, especially after losing the Final a week ago and our mood was not good, as we didn’t play well. However, right now I don’t care that we lost those other three finals, because we won this one!

“I have been here for eight years and I was the captain tonight, but Toloi and De Roon are ahead of me. I was proud to know I would wear the armband today, but everyone gives their absolute all.

“We played so well tonight and fully deserved it, there was no doubt this evening. Maybe the motto ‘beyond the result’ was because we never won! But they supported us continually, even through the lost finals, and they all deserve this success.

“When I first arrived, Atalanta were playing to avoid relegation. Bringing in Gasperini and this new philosophy, he always wants to improve players and get the best out of everyone, over the years I started to imagine we could win a trophy. Maybe not the Europa League, I had hoped for the Coppa Italia, as we came close three times.”

2024-05-22 22:31:23

Teun Koopmeiners

“This is an incredible, extraordinary night. We wrote history against such a strong team. Bayer Leverkusen were so strong this season, but we were incredible and so happy. After the final whistle, there was so much emotion,” Koopmeiners told Sky Sport Italia.

“We said to ourselves after last week that it was a different match, this would be far more open. Juventus played very deep after going 1-0 up and it was tough for us, but we did better tonight.

“I am very happy at Atalanta, I am only thinking about this trophy and I don’t know what will happen next season. We’ll see.”

2024-05-22 22:25:20

Mario Pasalic

“We lost three finals, it was tough, but we won the most important trophy and that makes up for everything. This was a team that had not lost in 51 games, we knew it would be tough, but we proved over the years we can beat anyone. Defeating a Bayer Leverkusen team in this form 3-0 is incredible.

“Over the years, the fans showed us so much love and support, so we are happy to bring back the trophy for them.”

2024-05-22 22:22:47

Antonio Percassi

“What happened is incredible, it is a dream come true. Seeing how much our fans love us, they truly deserved this achievement,” Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.

“It will be a big party when we return, for those who were unable to come here, I imagine they are already celebrating in the streets of Bergamo.

“At half-time, I thought ‘maybe this time we’ll really do it.’ This was such a great performance from the lads.

“This is such a great result, unexpected, as for many years Atalanta deserved to feel a night like this and never managed it. Now Atalanta are in history.”

Champions League victory next?

“We’ll see! The good thing is that we are growing continually and the players also realise how the club wants to evolve.”

Gasperini has been linked with Napoli, but will he remain?

“We’ll meet with Gasperini, but I am relaxed. I never had doubts on him. This helps him and us to keep doing even better.”

2024-05-22 22:20:53

Marten de Roon

“I have no words, I suffered today, I was so anxious. We had a great game, fantastic, there are no words. I have such joy, we truly deserved this,” De Roon told Sky Sport Italia.

“I was leaping around on the touchline, perhaps I will realise what actually happened. Tonight we can only enjoy this night, we did something extraordinary. It’s wonderful.

“I doubt anyone can move in Bergamo for the next three days. The fans gave us so much affection, we’ll be back there soon.”

2024-05-22 22:14:26

2024-05-22 22:10:13

Berat Djimsiti lifts the Europa League, but hands it to De Roon!

ATALANTA HAVE WON THE EUROPA LEAGUE!

2024-05-22 22:09:17

2024-05-22 22:08:47

Ademola Lookman

“It’s one of the best nights of my life. It was an amazing performance from the team. We did it – fantastic. I’m just happy we won. We made history tonight.”

2024-05-22 22:08:28

Bayer Leverkusen received their medals, applauded by their opponents, Xabi Alonso talks with Gasperini. Now Atalanta begin to step up.

2024-05-22 22:07:08

Gasperini

2024-05-22 22:06:40

Referees up first to receive their medals.

2024-05-22 22:04:43

2024-05-22 22:02:17

Gasperini has to clamber back out, he was in the stands with the Atalanta supporters!

2024-05-22 21:57:44

2024-05-22 21:55:44

No Italian team had won the Europa League/UEFA Cup since Parma in 1999!

2024-05-22 21:55:13

Atalanta had 1 trophy in their 116-year history and it was the Coppa Italia. Gasperini had NO silverware in his entire career.

Europa League winners!

2024-05-22 21:53:53

2024-05-22 21:53:23

92'

Hlozek chance

He’s had a good impact, Hlozek blasts it just wide of the near top corner!

2024-05-22 21:50:04

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Xabi Alonso explains Bayer Leverkusen approach to Atalanta

Watch: Atalanta take lead in Europa League final with Bayer Leverkusen