In a highly anticipated Europa League final, German champions Bayer Leverkusen have been given a boost with the news that star forward Florian Wirtz will start against Atalanta. After being sidelined for three weeks due to a muscle injury, Wirtz's return adds firepower to an already unbeaten team aiming to complete a treble. Meanwhile, Atalanta will be without influential midfielder Marten de Roon, but the return of striker Gianluca Scamacca could provide a much-needed spark in their bid for their first trophy in 61 years.
Europa League Final: Florian Wirtz Returns as Leverkusen Aim for Treble
The Europa League final is set to take place on May 18th, 2023, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. German champions Bayer Leverkusen will face Italian side Atalanta in a highly anticipated match that could see Leverkusen complete a treble of trophies this season.
Florian Wirtz's Return Boosts Leverkusen
After being sidelined for three weeks with a muscle injury, star forward Florian Wirtz has been cleared to start in the Europa League final. Wirtz's return is a major boost for Leverkusen, as the 19-year-old has been a key player for the team this season, scoring 11 goals and providing 13 assists in all competitions.
Atalanta Without Marten de Roon
Influential midfielder Marten de Roon will miss the Europa League final for Atalanta due to suspension. De Roon has been a mainstay in Atalanta's midfield this season, and his absence will be a blow to the team.
Gianluca Scamacca Returns for Atalanta
Striker Gianluca Scamacca is expected to return from injury for Atalanta in the Europa League final. Scamacca has been Atalanta's leading scorer this season, and his return could provide a much-needed spark for the team.
Background
The Europa League is the second-tier club football competition in Europe, organized by UEFA. It was previously known as the UEFA Cup until the 2009-10 season. Spanish club Sevilla has won the most Europa League titles, with six.
Top 5 FAQs
Who is the favorite to win the Europa League final? Leverkusen is considered the slight favorite to win the final, given their unbeaten record in the competition and the return of Florian Wirtz.
Who scored the winning goal in last year's Europa League final? Filip Kostic scored the winning goal for Eintracht Frankfurt in a 1-1 draw (5-4 on penalties) against Rangers.
Which team has won the most Europa League titles? Sevilla has won the Europa League title six times.
Who is the top scorer in the history of the Europa League? Henrik Larsson is the top scorer in the history of the Europa League, with 40 goals.
Who is the youngest player to score in the Europa League final? Kylian Mbappé is the youngest player to score in a Europa League final, scoring for Monaco in the 2017 final at the age of 18 years and 357 days.
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw showed his softer side by sharing an endearing message for social media influencer and actress Akriti Agarwal. The duo recently celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi together, giving fans a glimpse of their camaraderie. Despite facing a setback in the 2025 IPL auction, Shaw is determined to make a strong comeback with his new team and has been working hard to improve his batting skills, according to Maharashtra's chief selector Akshay Darekar.
With a chance to continue their winning streak, Manchester United head to the Etihad for a heated derby match against Manchester City. Despite City's recent struggles, United should not underestimate their rivals as both teams are vying for dominance in the Premier League. However, with last season's win at the Etihad and a confident Ruben Amorim at the helm, United are poised to secure another victory. Meanwhile, the speculation surrounding the future of Manchester United's manager continues, with names like Zinedine Zidane and Sean Dyche being thrown into the mix.
In a thrilling match at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, Spanish champions Barcelona put on a masterclass performance against Valencia. The highlight of the game was Marcus Rashford's top-notch assist for Barcelona's second goal, showing his potential as a loanee from Manchester United. With Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski also scoring and the use of VAR, it was a night to remember for Barcelona's fans.
After being sidelined for 383 days due to a major injury, FC Barcelona's Marc Bernal made a stunning comeback during the team's clash with Valencia. The 18-year-old was greeted by a standing ovation from his teammates and fans as he stepped onto the pitch. In just a few minutes, he made an impact by assisting in the team's 6-0 win. This comeback marks a major milestone in Bernal's journey as a player and he will be looking to continue building on this next step in his career.
In a thrilling and high stakes match, India proved their superiority over Pakistan, winning by seven wickets. However, the Indian team's decision to not shake hands with their opponents and captain Suryakumar Yadav's dedication of the win to the armed forces sparked controversy and questions. India's victory was aided by impressive performances from players like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Abhishek Sharma, who was hailed by Suryakumar as the player of the match. The win has secured India a spot in the Super 4s of the Asia Cup, making it a happy birthday for Suryakumar, who also achieved his personal goal of staying on the crease till the end. With the return of Sourav Ganguly as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal, Indian cricket is looking to maintain its strong and successful legacy.
India's Kuldeep Yadav takes 3 wickets and Suryakumar Yadav dedicates win to Armed Forces at post-match presentation while Afridi's 36 runs not enough for Pakistan In a highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Pakistan's batting proved to be no match for India's spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav taking 3 wickets and restricting Pakistan to 127 runs. Suryakumar Yadav also shone with his statement dedicating the win to India's Armed Forces. In a dominant display, India easily chased the target in just 16 overs with a brilliant performance from Suryakumar and Afridi's cameo not enough for Pakistan.
The India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 has been a controversial topic, with some calling for it to be cancelled following recent events. However, the Indian Supreme Court has given the green signal for the match to proceed, citing the new Sports Bill which allows for multi-team tournaments but restricts bilateral ties. The court also declined to list an urgent PIL seeking cancellation of the match.
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to kick off their journey in the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 with a clash against each other. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India is seen as one of the leading contenders for the title, with a strong batting unit and a well-rounded bowling attack. On the other hand, UAE, led by Muhammad Waseem, is the underdog in this match, but will aim to put up a tough fight in front of their home crowd. With live streaming and telecast details available, fans are eagerly waiting for the showdown between these two teams.
Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah proved why he's considered one of the best bowlers in the world as he made a successful T20I comeback against UAE in the Asia Cup 2025. With a searing yorker, Bumrah knocked over opening batter Alishan Sharafu, giving his team an early breakthrough. However, former India captain Ajay Jadeja felt that the star bowler should have been rested for the match against a weaker UAE side. Although there are concerns about his workload, Bumrah continues to shine on the field.
In their opening game of the 2025 Asia Cup, India displayed a dominant performance against the UAE, winning by a staggering margin of 103 runs. Kuldeep Yadav's four-wicket haul and Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy and batting prowess led the team to victory. This marks India's first T20 match since February and the team showed no signs of rustiness, asserting their status as one of the top teams in the format.