Bayer Leverkusen’s march to history continues in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final in Dublin vs. Atalanta

Hello! Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run headlines the Europa League final, while the coaching carousel cannot slow down in Europe. My name is Pardeep Cattry and here are the top news from the world of football.

Football correction

All times US/East

Wednesday, May 22
UEL: Atalanta x Leverkusen, 3pm CBS Sports Network, Paramount+

Thursday, May 23
Bundesliga Relegation Playoff: Bochum vs Dusseldorf, 2:30pm ESPN+
NWSL: Angel City x San Diego Wave, 10pm CBS Sports Network

The hotline

Leverkusen and Atalanta fight for the Europa League

Bayer Leverkusen’s quest to continue their unbeaten season takes center stage today when they face Atalanta in the penultimate match of the campaign.

The Bundesliga champions are heavy favorites in this game, which marks a swift reversal of fortunes for a team who were in the relegation battle when Xabi Alonso was signed in October 2022. As James Benge writes in his deep dive into the rapid transformation of Alonso at Leverkusen, demanded tactical intelligence from the young coach, who focused first on defensive stability before moving on to attacking prowess. Alonso has gotten the best out of several players this season, including Leverkusen’s main man Florian Wirtz, who has arguably emerged as one of Europe’s elite midfielders along the way.

• Benge: “Wirtz is the jewel 10. An outlet for ball progression, a carrier and creator in the final third, a decisive figure in the penalty area: the 21-year-old has all the qualities of an archetypal creator. for this Leverkusen team it’s his work off the ball. His teammates don’t need to accommodate Wirtz without the ball, he leads the attack, competing in more duels than any other member of the Werkself, making more ball recoveries in the final third than. Anyone in the Bundesliga, if that kind of player creates six and a half shots for himself and his teammates every 90 minutes, then you’re working towards something really special.”

Leverkusen’s dominance will likely require Atalanta, a team that prefers to control the ball, to change strategy if they are to be successful on Wednesday. The Italian team is not without its own qualities, as demonstrated by this season’s campaign to the Italian Cup and fifth place in Serie A. Just look at Atalanta’s talent on the wings, which Francesco Porzio writes could be the key to their success.

• Porzio: “The game will probably play a key role on the flanks, as both teams have two strong defenders. Atalanta will likely start Matteo Ruggeri on the right and Davide Zappacosta on the other side, but they will need to be very careful as Leverkusen can count on Alex Grimaldo and Josip Stanisic in the same roles. If Atalanta can stop the wingers, they will have a chance to win. Otherwise, it could become very dangerous considering the season that Xabi Alonso’s boys are having.

History beckons in Dublin regardless of who wins: Leverkusen would win their first European title since the UEFA Cup in 1988, while Atalanta would lift their first continental trophy with victory on Wednesday. As a result, this year’s Europa League final is a thrilling showcase for two teams on the rise and a wonderful reminder that the often predictable cadence of European football can, in fact, be upset with entertaining results.

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Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino quit

The training carousel gained another set of participants on Tuesday when Mauricio Pochettino surprisingly left Chelsea after just one season in charge. The decision reportedly came after Pochettino and co-controller Todd Boehly had dinner on Friday and Chelsea’s end-of-season review, and leaves Boehly and company searching for their sixth manager since taking over the club two years ago.

Chelsea will hit the managerial market along with a long list of other clubs and, considering the limited supply but incredibly high demand, there are a handful of familiar names who are in contention to succeed Pochettino. Here’s James Benge with a quick look at the coaches who could be in the mix.

• Benge: “Chelsea are said to be among the many admirers of Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, who is also linked with a vacancy at Brighton and Hove Albion. This vacancy was caused by the departure of Roberto De Zerbi, who was previously linked with the Blues and is said to wish to remain in the Premier League.

As for Pochettino, this could be a very opportune time for him to be on the market, after delivering promising performances during his time at Stamford Bridge. Although he has not yet been seriously linked to any vacancy, several high-profile jobs are still up for grabs, chief among them that of Bayern Munich, which has technically been open since February. Vincent Kompany was the last manager linked to that role, despite leading Burnley to relegation this season, a sign that the German national team is struggling to find Thomas Tuchel’s replacement. A job opening appears imminent at Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s disastrous second season in charge, while other clubs across the continent are also hiring. Pochettino could become the most sought-after manager on everyone’s list, but the tomfoolery preceding a chaotic wave of signings in Europe means it’s difficult to predict where anyone will end up once pre-season begins.

Top stories

Kroos retirement: Toni Kroos will retire after this summer’s Euros and will remain as one of the greatest midfielders of all time.

Europa League Final: Here’s a look at key players in Wednesday’s final, plus a look how Atalanta can beat an undefeated Leverkusen team. Plus, see how Italian coaches have succeeded on Europe’s biggest stages.

Switching between properties: American fund Oaktree took control of Inter after Chinese conglomerate Suning failed to repay a $428 million loan, but don’t expect any major changes at the club in the short term as Oaktree searches for a new owner.

The Hayes era begins: The Emma Hayes era has officially begun for the USWNT after his first listing dropped yesterday, featuring a mix of young talent and veteran experience.

England’s Euro Preparation: Gareth Southgate named a preliminary 33-player squad ahead of the Euros, leaving out big names like Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson.

Chelsea’s next move: Here’s a look at who could be next at Chelsea and more coverage from Pochettino’s surprise departure.

Goals galore: After another high-scoring weekend in the NWSL, here’s a look at the wide array of scorers who were on the scoresheet – including Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda.

Shipping from Italy: Here’s a look back at Massimiliano Allegri’s turbulent second spell at Juventus, The case of Lautaro Martinez as the best player in Serie A It is Fiorentina’s Giacomo Bonaventura on the team’s mentality ahead of next week’s Conference League final.

Very early predictions: The 2023-24 Premier League season may have just ended, but it’s never too early to predict what will happen a year from now in England’s top flight.

The back row

Best Bets

• Europa League Final: Atalanta x Bayer Leverkusen, Wednesday, 3pm
  THE PICK: Bayer Leverkusen will win 1-0 (+650) – Atalanta impressed on their way to the Europa League final and are expected to keep things close, but with over 50 games into an unbeaten season it is difficult to bet against Leverkusen. Expect another hard-fought match – and perhaps another late victory for the German champions.
• Europa League Final: Atalanta x Bayer Leverkusen, Wednesday, 3pm

THE CHOICE: Victor Boniface will score (+115) – Leverkusen’s attacking players have shared goal-scoring responsibilities admirably this season, but if there’s one person to bank on, why wouldn’t it be the team’s golden boot leader? Boniface has scored 21 goals in all competitions and has played a crucial role in their success this campaign, so he would be a suitable choice to help them win their first continental title in almost 40 years.

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