Leverkusen Coach Alonso Picks Palacios Over Andrich In Europa League Final Against Atalanta Achi-News

DUBLIN: Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso opted to start Argentina midfielder Exequiel Palacios over Robert Andrich in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Atalanta.

Andrich, who made his debut for the German national team aged 29 this season, started more games in Leverkusen’s run to the final than Palacios, who was in the squad that won the 2022 World Cup.

The new German champions are aiming to extend their remarkable season-long unbeaten run to 52 games with only the domestic cup final remaining to be played on Saturday.

Both teams will start with their regular Europa League goalkeepers who play less often in domestic league matches: Matěj Kovář for Leverkusen and Juan Musso for Atalanta.

Alonso and Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini selected teams in their preferred 3-4-3 formations.

Atalanta were drawn as the home team and will play in their traditional blue and black striped shirts. Leverkusen switch from black and red to their light gray colours.

Atalanta have never won a European title and are in their first continental final.

Leverkusen won the 1988 UEFA Cup, the forerunner of the Europa League, and reached the knockout final of the Champions League in 2002.

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Lineups:

Atalanta: John Musso; Berat Djimsiti, Isaac Hien, Sead Kolashinac; Daide Zappacosta, Ederson, Teun Koopmeiners, Matteo Ruggeri; Charles of Kettle, Ademola Lookman; Gianluca Scamacca is not following anyone Autodesk_new

Bayer Leverkusen: Matej Kovář; Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanišić; Jeremie Frimpong, Exequiel Palacios, Granit Xhaka, Piero Hincapié; Florian Wirtz, Alex Grimaldo; Amin Adli.

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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)