UEL: Facing Bayer Leverkusen in the final
The German Club have just won the Bundesliga title
With newly crowned Bundesliga Meisters Bayer 04 Leverkusen trading blows with Atalanta in the 2023-2024 UEFA Europa League final scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, at the Aviva Arena in Dublin, it's time to know the ins and outs of the Die Schwarzroten with our customary report.
As stated above, Bayer have just lifted their first-ever Bundesliga title, thus culminating a cavalcade that saw the North-Rhine side rack up 90 points in 34 games, with 28 wins and 6 draws as a made-up, and 89 goals scored - which allowed Die Werkself to win the league title with 5 games to spare thanks to their 15-points gaps on the title runner-ups. The Meisterschale is thus the latest addition to Bayer's trophy cabinet, which comprises the 1987-1988 Uefa Cup and the 1992-1993 Germany Cup.
Trained by former Spanish International Xabi Alonso, the German outfit is still unbeaten in all competitions and will close their season on May 25 with the DFB-Pokal's finale against Kaiserslautern.
As for the German team's path in the 2023-2024 Europa League, Leverkusen closed the Group Stage, where they were drafted together with Hacken, Molde and Qarabag, on a spotless winning streak before edging past, respectively: Quarabag in the RO16, West Ham in the quarterfinals and Roma in the semis.
With 21 goals to his name in all competitions including his 5 nets in the Europa League, Nigerian striker Victor Boniface stands out as the team's best goalscorer.
The Aviva Arena final will be the third European match-up between the two teams after the 2021/22 UEL RO16 tie, which saw Atalanta run out winners from both clashes: namely, after imposing themselves 3-2 at home, Gasperini's men claimed a 1-0 victory in Germany.