This is Bayer 04's third appearance in a major European final (after 1987/88 and 2001/02), and Atalanta's first. The two clubs have met twice in competitive matches so far, with the Italians winning both encounters in the round of 16 of the 2021/22 Europa League campaign.
Atalanta can also become the first Italian team to win the Europa League. So far, only clubs from Spain, Portugal, England and Germany have been victorious in the competition. The last Italian team to win the UEFA Cup (predecessor to the UEFA Europa League) was Parma in the 1998/99 season.
Today's venue, the Dublin Arena has previously hosted one Europa League final, in the 2010/11 season. Back then, Porto and Sporting Braga contested an all-Portuguese final, with Porto winning 1-0. Outside of UEFA competitions, the ground is known as the "Aviva Stadium". It's shaped like a horseshoe and is the second largest stadium in Ireland.
A week ago, Atalanta suffered a painful 1-0 defeat against Juventus in the final of the Coppa Italia. Three days later, however, they were successful in their dress rehearsal for today's Europa League final: the Black & Blues won 2-0 at U.S. Lecce to secure a fifth-place finish in Serie A. The Italians, for whom former Leverkusen defender Mitchel Bakker has also been playing since the start of the season, have thus already achieved their first major goal with two matchdays still to go: qualification for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League. With head coach Gian Piero Gasperini in charge, Atalanta will be competing in Europe's premier club competition for the fourth time. The 66-year-old has been at the helm of the side since 2016. Our in-depth opposition profile has everything else you need to know about the club from Lombardy.
Like the Werkself, Atalanta ended the group stage without defeat. Bayer 04 went on to beat Qarabag in the round of 16, West Ham United in the quarter-finals and Roma in the semi-finals. For their part, the Italians defeated Sporting Lisbon in the round of 16. They then knocked out Liverpool in the quarter-finals before going on to book their place in the final against Marseille.
UEFA have appointed Romanian referee István Kovács for the match in Dublin. The 39-year-old will be assisted by his compatriots Vasile Florin Marinescu and Mihai Ovidiu Artene on the touchline, while VAR duties will be carried out by Dutchman Pol van Boekel.
The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
Show more
Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
Show more
Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
Show more
