Bayer Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso are two victories away from completing what must be regarded as the perfect season: going unbeaten across all competitions and winning the Bundesliga, Europa League and German Cup.
Granted, the European leg of this particular ‘invincible treble’ is not the Champions League, but it would be churlish to hold that against Leverkusen. The club, sometimes labelled ‘Neverkusen’ because of their history of falling short, had not won the Bundesliga before this season, and have won the German Cup just once. That was 31 years ago. They were runners-up in the Champions League in 2002, and their only European trophy is the 1988 Uefa Cup.
They are not one of modern football’s powerhouses, and have been transformed by Alonso in his first job in management. Alonso played under Rafeal Benitez, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, but his team wears those influences lightly. He is forging a style all of his own, combining the structured build-up of Guardiola, but also elements of direct, fast counter-attacks and fluid movements. Florian Wirtz is the jewel in the crown, while former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka sets the tempo in deep midfield.
“We have been preparing for this moment through all the year, it is not just a two-day job,” said Alonso. “Tomorrow I have a good feeling it is not going to be different. We respect Atalanta but we have confidence in our game and our mentality is not going to change.
“Luckily I have a great team, they are ready and well prepared for tomorrow and go into the game with the right mindset.
Given Leverkusen play second-division Kaiserslauten in their domestic cup final on Saturday, tonight’s Europa League final against Atalanta in Dublin looks the harder task. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team consistently punch above their weight, and gave Liverpool one hell of a slap across the face in the quarter-finals. They smothered Liverpool with their man-to-man pressing. These are two of the most distinctive and interesting tactical units in European football, but that does not always make for an open and entertaining game.
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