Topic: ⚽UEFA Europa League Discussion Thread -- 2022/23 | Group Stages - page 9. (Read 15441 times)

I was still considering the possibility for a comeback even while it was 2-0. Because I remember their comeback against Roma by scoring 2 goals in last 10 minutes. But Lookman just closed the door to them.    It was absolutely a huge performance by him. Atalanta really managed to counter Leverkusen by a big victory. By the way Xabi Alonso's choices made me surprised. He didn't start with his main goalkeeper and strikers. I wonder what he was thinking. 

51 game without been defected is insane for Leverkusen. They have  been tremendous this season in all competition I really applaud the team and the manager Xabi Alonso it has not been easy. Though I never believed they will loss to Atalanta tonight talk more of lossing 3 zero against Atalanta, Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman scoring all goal taking a ball home as a reward for a hatric scored. Despite been 2 goals down at first half I thought they will do magic as usual but unfortunately it didn't work out as I thought, all thesame Congratulations to Atalanta the new UEFA Europa league Champion.

Sincerely speaking Ademola lookman has been incredible, I never really knew much about him not until the African Nations cup where I first saw him please for the Nigerian national team, the young man is a bunch of talent that is firing from all cylinders, keeping a record of being the first player to score a hat-trick in the Europa league final, that's huge.
I never even thought for a second that Atalanta will beat Bayern Leverkusen, I thought that leverkusen where the big boys who had the show and Atalanta where the underdogs, but now the underdogs that i thought are now the champions.

When I first looked at Leverkusen's starting eleven, I was afraid that they might lose a game for the first time in this season, but I didn't want to believe that Xabi Alonso would make a mistake. Firstly, Boniface was missing - why? Atalanta's defence is physically very strong and Adli was lost in it - after Boniface was substituted on, you could see that he was able to put the defence under more pressure. Then there was another big mistake in defence: Lookman had an easy game - he should have been covered by a faster defender. And another problem was Wirtz's form: unfortunately he came back from an injury and simply wasn't ready for the starting eleven - it would have been more effective to bring him on in the second half.

It's a shame that Leverkusen couldn't win the EL, but they played an incredibly good season and only had one bad game.

After the African Cup of Nations where Ademola Lookman put up a classy performance, I never heard much about him anymore. Today he has emerged as the hero of Atalanta and a curse to Bayer Leverkusen. His three goals were so wonderful that Bayer's goalkeeper had no chance to save them. The wonderful season that Bayer had enjoyed before now has been dashed by the Nigerian. Xabi Alonso knows that it is all over and he should focus on winning a second trophy through the German Cup. Congratulations to Atalanta because many people including me predicted that they would never win this game.

Comeback never arrived. They weren't playing particularly badly but Lookman took his shots so well, it's really hard to begrudge Atalanta this win. Comprehensive, hattrick hero, this was definitely worth throwing Serie A away, expect them to flop badly in their remaining games ha!

It's a familiar Liverpool theme, Alonso, you might take a page out of their history book to ensure you don't make that mistake next season.

Good final, overall, see you gentlemen next season?

Lookman just made it 3-0, the unbeatable record has come to an end for Bayern 04 Leverkusen, Atalanta had already done the damage by scoring that initial 2-0, so even when Leverkusen tried to fight back in this second half, yet it's not looking like is going to yield any results, because in the initial start of the second half they where really  trying to put some pressure on Atalanta, but the Atalanta defence has been strong like the wall of Gibraltar. They deserve the trophy, they've shown consistency and they've been incredible with their performance, so they deserve the win. congratulations to Atalanta the champions of the Europa league.

In fact, in the semi-final second leg against Roma, Roma was also ahead by 2 goals and in the end, at the last moment, Leverkusen was able to score 2 goals and ended in a draw. However, the conditions may be a little different this time. This is the semi-finals, where each club will definitely try very optimally, and will narrow the opponent's chances of scoring goals if they are ahead like this. Meanwhile here, this time, Leverkusen, they dominated the ball, but they were unable to get further into the defensive area. So yes, their dominance is in vain. Because what is also important is their shots on target.

I'm quite confused about Xabi, why did he take such a risky step by not fielding all the key players and their main players as starters. Even though this is final, we cannot speculate further like before. Meanwhile, Atalanta is also the top Serie A club which is stronger than Roma. Does Xabi think it will be the same as previous farms and is he very confident in his decision?
Ah well, even though we all hope Leverkusen can do it. However, if in the end Atalanta, a club from Serie A, is able to stop Leverkusen's unbeaten run, that means Atalanta is playing very excellently this time.



Anyway, I think it's done.
Leverkusen won't be able to turn it back to be winner. Should I congratulate Atalanta this time?

We are now in the final minutes for Leverkusen. In the match where Lookman played heroically, Atalanta maintained its 2-0 advantage. The 51-game series will end tonight unless a big miracle happens. What a terrible ending for Xabi and Leverkusen. Since it was the final, I believed that Atalanta would play great, and they did. So far everything is perfect. A miracle probably won't happen in the last 10 minutes.

51 games without defeat for Levekusen is about to end tonight against Atalanta with 2-0 in first half. I also don't think Leverkusen will have the necessary resources to comeback in 2nd half and score 2 goals but I do see them scoring once. However ,if a miracle happens again for them , I think they will be one of the most luckiest teams in football history to always comeback game after game and if you don't believe in magic , you should if this happens 

That's even more incredible considering that there is less rounds in Bundesliga than EPL.
Not that I would be Leverkusen fan, but I will support them tonight and then DFB Pokal final. Really want to see them making something what it would be difficult to repeat.
Put some money on Bayer and also BTTS. Don't want to see 0:0 final at all, but wouldn't be against extra time and penalties .

They did it in Bundesliga so that alone equalled Arsenal's Invincibles so any doubts lingering were gone with that kind of performance. Beat Arsenal's points total, goals scored. What a team.

And now, just two cups away from perfection. I'm not even a Bayer fan but I'm dreaming already, what a memory to treasure.

No value in tonight's game though. 0-0 is also a distinct possibility if I understand the way the Italians will play

That record of Arsenal was also insane, yeah.    However doing it for much longer and in all competitions included is just a very admirable job. Great job Xabi Alonso!

Leverkusen are really the best with comebacks now. I have found a video which Leverkusen YouTube channel shared related to all their last minute goals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQmSkjA2D9U

---

Today is the day for the finale!    I can see the odds like:



Truthfully, a regular time win by Leverkusen is my expectation and the odds look nice. I don't underestimate Atalanta of course but it really difficult for them to stop this team. If Xabi Alonso prefers a cautious game then maybe we might see extra time.

They are the anti-complacency team. 5-0 wipeout and they were actually wasteful with chances!

No matter what happens, though, even if they lose the treble, and only have Bundesliga, they are already a team who have surpassed Arsenal's Invincibles. Sorry Gooners but you guys went a season undefeated in the Prem League but Leverkusen are 50 games unbeaten in ANY competition.

I don't care if they end up losing both cups, they are already the best team Europe has ever seen. Liverpool made a record in England for saving the most points in injury time. But Leverkusen blew that out of the water. Comeback kings.

It was really an insane comeback.    I mean there was a 2-0 lead by Roma in the 80th minute. Just how can you let this happen?

I really want to know what the secret is. I would like to ask about that to Xabi Alonso.    The players never back down. Of course while there is a big series like this the players are much more motivated. But they don't even get complacent in the Bundesliga after already declaring the championship.

Hopefully Xabi Alonso maintains the series until the end of the season with 3 championships in hand:

• Bundesliga
• Europa League
• DFB Pokal

For this Leverkusen side, there is no stopping them, their thinking and believe in their abilities is top notch, they were able to preserve their team record of being unbeaten, and it looks like they are going to end this competition being unbeaten. They are a hardworking team; they deserve every moment of success that they are experiencing.

Atalanta vs Leverkusen in the finals, Leverkusen remain the favorites to win it.

Damn, it looked that Roma chances is such tiny, but they scored 2 goals and things looked great for them. But then after everything, they conceded such stupid own goal. It looked that they can at least win game and give Bayer first defeat this season. But Bayer is crazy and there is only man who can stop them:
https://twitter.com/KYSTAR/status/1784601241449902223 49 games undefeated...
While Marseille were so terrible, they had no chance against Atalanta.

Didn't want to say it too early. Leverkusen down 2 goals with 10 minutes, we've seen it happen plenty of time before and this was at home. And then once Mancini put the ball in his own net, the magic of this season seemed to take hold. And take hold it did, equaliser they didn't need arrived in the final minute.

Leverkusen's story continues and while Roma's 30/1 to win was unfair, it wasn't wrong. Collective huge sigh of relief from the bookies!

After the latest results the odds are seen like this:



Roma should have been better than this truthfully. I know it is really hard to stop this Leverkusen. But you are playing home, you should be able to do something at least. Roma were like a ghost in the first half. They made things much easier for Leverkusen. I expected more from De Rossi. They weren't good enough in the attacking side (2 shots on goal in the whole match  ).

Xabi Alonso has exactly what he wants now. He is going for a treble without a loss. If he makes it I guess it will be some kind of a record, right?

Okay, I'm pretending to completely ignore the events of the last few weeks.

Surprisingly, I can't find much to cheer about from a betting perspective -- all teams left are evenly matched according to bookies; okay, Roma has the longest odds but 25/10 or so isn't really an underdog is it?

That means no betting for me, unless Leverkusen - Atalanta looks value to you...