Xabi Alonso explains Bayer Leverkusen approach to Atalanta

Xabi Alonso explains his more defensive Bayer Leverkusen choices for the Europa League Final and expects Atalanta to bring ‘quality, intensity and aggression.’

It kicks off at the Dublin Arena at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

The former midfielder has plenty of experience in European Finals, but only as a player and not as a coach.

“It is different because I am on the bench, not the pitch, so my role is very different. The players will be the ones out there,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

Xabi Alonso explains False 9 tactics

Gian Piero Gasperini has gone for an all-attack team with Gianluca Scamacca, Charles De Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman and Teun Koopmeiners together.

On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen opt for a False 9 with Amine Adli and Florian Wirtz upfront, leaving Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick on the bench.

It is a similar approach to the one taken in the two Europa League semi-finals against Roma, which ended 2-0 at the Olimpico and 2-2 in Leverkusen.

“I made this decision based on current form, tactics and we have a good set of options on the bench who can come on during the game and have an impact,” continued Xabi Alonso.

“We expect Atalanta to attack in a very aggressive fashion, Koopmeiners is in place of Pasalic in the midfield, but we expect the usual approach with a lot of quality, intensity and they will cause us problems.”

Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in 51 competitive matches this season and are on track for an invincible Treble, as they will also face Kaiserslautern in the German Cup Final on Saturday and already won the Bundesliga.