Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction, betting tips and odds

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin will host the first continental final of the season as Atalanta take on German giants Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen have dominated the Bundesliga and have gone 51 games without defeat in Europe.

Their European record has given them a reputation as one of the most unbreakable teams around, and they have rewritten popular culture with their flurry of late goals and remarkable comebacks.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen are the clear favourites for Wednesday evening’s showpiece.

The Werkself have been preparing for this moment since clinching the Bundesliga title on April 14th, and they are expected to field their best line-up.

Despite having the luxury of resting players and not needing to exert maximum effort over the past two months, the squad is still full of attacking talent.

Winger Piero Hincapie and defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka will both return to the starting eleven, while central defender Jonathan Tah is fit again and centre-back enforcer Robert Andrich is likely to be retained.

Atalanta are in a battle to qualify for the Champions League next season, and they are five points off the fourth spot in Serie A with just two matches remaining.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s team have fought valiantly to reach this stage, and they will hope that victory can mark a turning point in their history.

Atalanta have beaten Leverkusen in both previous meetings this season, and they will be confident of upsetting the odds-on favourites.

Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick are set to be the club’s frontmen, and Gasperini may opt for a false nine formation.