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The day has finally come as the Europa League Final is set to kick off on Wednesday in Dublin, Ireland. Bayer Leverkusen looks to complete the treble and complete their unbeaten season. Meanwhile, Atalanta hope to earn their first-ever continental honors. Read on for an Atalanta vs Leverkusen betting prediction and explore tips and stats for Europa League odds in 2024.
- Atalanta BC vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- UEFA Europa League Final
- Wednesday, May 22, 2024
- 3 PM EST
- Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland (neutral venue)
- Paramount+
Europa League Odds for the 2024 Final
Bayer Leverkusen are slight odds-on favorites to win in 90 minutes and claim the Europa League trophy in 2024 at (-120). Atalanta will have to put in some hard work to earn their victory, as sportsbooks give them an implied probability of winning at just 23.3% at (+330). A draw, which would force two 15-minute extra time periods, is lined at (+280).
Europa League 
Atalanta +318 +318 +330 +320 +320 Leverkusen -120 -120 -125 -123 -123 Draw +278 +278 +280 +270 +270
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about Europa League betting in 2024.
Atalanta Run to the Europa League Final
It has been a generational run for Atalanta in the Europa League. Never before had they advanced past the quarterfinals of either the Europa or the Champions League, barring a semifinals appearance in the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup. Now they find themselves in the final with away wins over Liverpool and Sporting Lisbon. La Dea remain underdogs in the showpiece fixture, yet they will be confident in their prospects considering the events of the past few months.
Sadly, their hopes of a double were dashed after suffering a 1-0 loss to Juventus in the Coppa Italia final. A 4th-minute strike from Dusan Vlahovic proved to be the ultimate decider as Juve won their record-extending 15th Italian cup. They will need more scoring if they are to hoist their first-ever continental silverware, especially against a Leverkusen side that excelled in the high-octane Bundesliga this season.
Atalanta have appeared on the European stage for the 5th time in the last 6 years, after just 4 appearances prior to 2017. Notably, they knocked out Leverkusen from the Europa League Round of 16 in 2022 with wins in each leg of the tie. Overall, the Bergamo-based side is 3-3-2 against German clubs in European competition, with a goal differential of exactly 0.
The Historic Dominance of Bayer Leverkusen in 2024
Bayer Leverkusen has gone unbeaten in their last 49 games across all competitions. This feat broke the European post- World War II record of 48 set by Benfica in the 1960s. The club is just a few games away from completing an unbeaten season, joining a rare group of European clubs to do so, especially from a bigger country at the top flight like Bundesliga.
Infamously nicknamed “Neverkusen” for their penchant for runners-up finishes and having no Bundesliga title to their name, Xabi Alonso helped Leverkusen dispel that narrative in 2023-24. The club is now endearingly mentioned as “Neverlusen” for their unbeaten streak amongst online circles. There has been an air of destiny to this club’s success as well, given their remarkable ability to pull out late scores to earn results. Their record-breaking draw against Roma came thanks to an 82’ own goal and a 97’ equalizer from Josip Stanisic.
Bayer Leverkusen has been a staple of European soccer, participating in 29 seasons of continental competition. Their last appearance in the Final, however, was a loss to Real Madrid in 2002. Their only victory was in the 1988 UEFA Cup against Espanyol. Leverkusen will benefit from a rest advantage come Wednesday thanks to their early clinching of the Bundesliga title. Scheduled to face Augsburg at BayArena, it is more than achievable for Leverkusen to rest key starters and still extend their unbeaten record.
Europa League Odds Betting Prediction and Free Pick
There are times in betting where no matter what the statistics may indicate, it can feel as if one outcome is the most likely simply because it feels that way. And for the Europa League final, a Bayer Leverkusen success just feels inevitable. In what has been one of the greatest seasons in European history, Leverkusen have managed to secure results from improbable situations time and time again. Atalanta is deserving of their appearance in the showpiece event of the second-tier European cup, but can they overcome the “Neverlusen” magic?
I am not one to jump in front of such a wagon that is Bayer Leverkusen. Atalanta had to play a contentious domestic cup final on Wednesday before their final Serie A duties on Saturday. Their weekend match is no giveaway either, as Atalanta needs to win to secure their continental status for next year. They could automatically qualify with a win over Leverkusen, but they will likely not see it wise to throw all their eggs in one basket.
BetOnline is offering a generous line in the “To Lift the Trophy” market, which covers Leverkusen in the event they do not win in 90 minutes but prevail in extra time or penalties, if necessary. I believe significant public betting volume will push this line closer to (-275) if not higher by kickoff. Be on the right side of history here and throw a half unit on “Neverlusen.” However it comes, it simply feels inevitable.
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