Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Atalanta BC could line up for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Seeking a first major trophy since 1963, Atalanta BC will try to conquer ‘invincible’ German champions Bayer Leverkusen in Wednesday’s Europa League final, which takes place in Dublin.
Having recently lost the Coppa Italia decider to Juventus, La Dea now travel to the Irish capital aiming to end a long search for silverware, as veteran coach Gian Piero Gasperini leads his club into a first-ever European final.
The highly-rated tactician prefers a back three, and with Sead Kolasinac and Rafael Toloi both back from thigh injuries, his defensive options have substantially improved.
Versatile midfielder Marten de Roon – who often fills in at the back – is definitely ruled out by an injury sustained in the Nerazzurri’s cup final defeat, but young Italy international Giorgio Scalvini recently returned from a layoff is in contention to start.
Isak Hien and Berat Djimsiti should join the latter in Atalanta’s back three, behind which cup goalkeeper Juan Musso is set to get the nod over Marco Carnesecchi, who has been preferred in Serie A for most of this season.
Gasperini is expected to select Davide Zappacosta and Matteo Ruggeri from his numerous wide players; Dutch duo Mitchel Bakker and Hans Hateboer are bound for the bench, and Swedish wing-back Emil Holm could also be involved after recovering from a calf problem.
Approaching the end of an injury-scarred first year in Italy, El-Bilal Toure has now broken into La Dea’s rotating cast of forwards, but despite starting Saturday’s 2-0 win over Lecce, either Charles De Ketelaere or Ademola Lookman should support Gianluca Scamacca up front.
It remains to be seen whether sharp-shooting midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is deployed in an advanced midfield role or dropped deeper to deputise for fellow Netherlands international De Roon; Mario Pasalic and Aleksei Miranchuk will also be prominent in Gasperini’s considerations.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup: Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere; Scamacca
> Click here to see how Bayer Leverkusen could line up for Wednesday’s Europa League final
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