Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions this season as they look to add the Europa League to the Bundesliga title they’ve already secured in Dublin on Wednesday.
The Germans are 4/5 to win in normal time and just 2/5 to lift the trophy, while opponents Atalanta are 16/5 to win in 90 minutes and 19/10 to prevail by any means available.
Leverkusen are a formidable outfit and should have too much for their Italian foes, with their indefatigable knack for late goals a big reason to bet them with confidence.
Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions
Bayer Leverkusen to win and both teams to score @ 14/5
Over one second half goal @ 11/10
Second-half result – Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 6/5
Bet on the latest Europa League odds at Betzone
Boys from Bergamo to land a blow in defeat against Alonso’s machine
How do you beat a team that doesn’t know how to lose? Scoring is probably a good start and Atalanta have provided compelling evidence that they are up to the task.
They’ve scored in all bar one of their 12 outings in the UEL this season and the one blank in that run came when defending a 3-0 aggregate lead they’d gained by beating Liverpool at Anfield.
Indeed, having ousted the Reds, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille they’ve perhaps got a stronger body of work in the 2023/24 competition than their opponents.
However, this Leverkusen side are something special and already boast another level of form entirely having avoided defeat in domestic doubles against Champions League finalists Dotrmund (1-1, 1-1) and narrowly defeated UCL semi-finalists Bayern Munich (2-2, 3-0).
Alonso’s men are a reasonable price at 4/5 for victory in normal time, but they’ve conceded at least once in six of their last eight. Both sides have found the net within normal time in the last five Europa League deciders and it’s worth chancing the Italians to bag in defeat to help us land the Levekusen/BTTS double.
Tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win and both teams to score @ 14/5
Germans near irresistible after the interval in this season’s competition
Another way of unearthing a bit of value about the Leverkusen victory is by backing them to win the second half – an eventuality which rewards punters to the tune of 6/5.
Alonso’s men have won 11 of their 12 Europa League second acts this term – streets ahead of any other side in the competition. Atalanta had the fourth best second-period record in the 2023/24 UEL but they’ve won only six of their dozen, losing three and drawing the remainder.
Tip: Second-half result – Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 6/5
Late-goal gluttons Leverkusen make second-half goals a strong selection
The Germans have had to leave things pretty late to preserve their unbeaten record at times this season, with their semi-final second leg against Roma a case in point. Die Werkself netted in the 82nd and 96th minutes to secure a 2-2 draw.
Seven of their last 10 outings have seen at least two goals scored after the interval and the 11/10 about more than one being netted in the second half in Dublin looks well worthy of consideration.
