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.
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