After 51 unbeaten games, Bayer Leverkusen's impressive streak faces a stern test in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday, as they go up against Atalanta, who are eager to end the German champions' run.
The teams will clash in the Republic of Ireland's capital Dublin, where Leverkusen aims to secure the second part of a remarkable treble, while Atalanta seek to claim their first-ever European trophy.
Their last encounter was in the 2021-22 Europa League last-16, where Atalanta won 3-2 at home and also secured a last-gasp 1-0 victory in Germany a week later. This time, though, the stakes are much higher.
After defeating Olympique Marseille in the semi-finals, and following their top finish in Group D along with victories over the new Portuguese champions Sporting and Premier League giants Liverpool, Atalanta can dream of winning their first-ever European final.
Becoming the 11th Italian team to reach a continental final, the Bergamo outfit has the chance to be the first Serie A side to win the Europa League (with its current name and format), provided they can triumph in the decisive match.
Furthermore, no Serie A club has triumphed in the UEFA Cup since Parma in 1998-99, when the Gialloblu thumped Marseille 3-0 in Moscow.
Under the guidance of the esteemed Gian Piero Gasperini, who arrived in Lombardy eight years ago, Atalanta have transformed themselves into regular contenders on the European stage, even achieving three consecutive Champions League qualifications.
However, the 66-year-old Gasperini has yet to secure a trophy, recently losing the Coppa Italia final to Juventus (last Wednesday) for the second time in four years, marking his third overall defeat in the Italian Cup's Rome finale.
Gasperini will enter the Dublin final as the oldest manager to debut in a European final, while the relatively young Xabi Alonso is the youngest coach to lead a UEFA finalist since 2012. The tactical duel between these two contrasting figures promises to be intriguing.
While only Serie A champions Inter Milan have a higher goal rate in the second half of the season, Atalanta have been more defensively solid in continental competition, allowing only 2.8 shots on target per game in the Europa League - the lowest of any team in the tournament.
La Dea maintained another clean sheet last weekend, securing a crucial victory over top-five rivals AS Roma, followed by a 2-0 victory against Lecce. Forwards Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca scored at Via del Mare, ensuring a top-five finish and a return to the cherished Champions League next term.
Already a beloved figure in Bergamo, if Gasperini can shed the 'nearly-man' label and lead Atalanta to their first major trophy since 1963 by defeating the formidable Bayer Leverkusen, it would solidify his legacy as an all-time great among the Nerazzurri faithful.
While the likes of Ademola Lookman, Teun Koopmeiners and Charles De Ketelaere all pose significant threats, the main striker's role in Dublin is most certainly to be entrusted to Gianluca Scamacca.
Scamacca, who scored only once in the group stage, has since found the net in every knockout round, including a double in the Nerazzurri's historic triumph at Anfield. Thus, the Italian forward boasts a total of six Europa League goals this season.
Despite the return of Emil Holm and Sead Kolasinac from injury, influential midfielder Marten De Roon will miss the Europa League final due to a thigh strain suffered in the Coppa Italia final.
Elsewhere, captain Rafael Toloi is still not fully fit, so either Kolasinac or Giorgio Scalvini is expected to join Isak Hien and Berat Djimsiti in Atalanta's back three.
Harshly dubbed 'Neverkusen' after their 2001-02 team finished runners-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League under Klaus Toppmöller, Bayer Leverkusen have defied that label in the most remarkable fashion 22 years later.
When Xabi Alonso took over less than two years ago, Leverkusen were languishing in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table. Since then, Die Werkself have soared to the top, dominating the German top-flight. Their victory over Augsburg last weekend capped an 'invincible' 34-game league campaign.
Once five-time Bundesliga runners-up, Leverkusen finished this season with 90 points, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year hegemony and finally claiming the Meisterschale.
Under their highly-rated head coach, Leverkusen have become an attacking powerhouse, scoring 135 goals across all competitions while conceding just 39. Despite this impressive tally, the Rhine club still has the opportunity to further embellish an already historic season.
Bayer Leverkusen seeks to win their second European trophy, following their 1988 UEFA Cup triumph. A victory in Dublin would set the stage for a potential treble, as they face second-tier Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final in the coming weekend.
Known for their resilience and knack for crucial late goals, Die Werkself's continental journey could have ended much earlier without their indomitable spirit. They overcame a 2-0 deficit against Qarabag in both last-16 legs to progress and stunned last year's finalists Roma in the semi-finals with Josip Stanisic's dramatic 97th-minute strike.
Xabi Alonso's side also defeated reigning Conference League champions West Ham United in the quarter-finals. Having cruised through the group stage with a flawless record of six wins from six, they now stand on the brink of becoming just the fourth team to lift the Europa League trophy unbeaten.
With a fully healthy squad, Xabi Alonso can freely choose from his Bundesliga-winning squad for the final, intensifying competition for starting spots.
Piero Hincapie and pivotal midfielder Granit Xhaka are expected to return to the starting side in Wednesday's final. The decision of whether Patrick Schick or Victor Boniface will lead the line remains undecided, with the option of employing a 'false nine' also under consideration.
One is certain - Alonso will undoubtedly call upon star player Florian Wirtz, who has been carefully managed due to a thigh injury. Leverkusen's Basque manager handed him a cameo appearance against Augsburg on the final Bundesliga weekend and is now likely to start.
The 21-year-old German international has bagged 18 goals and provided 19 assists across all competitions this season. Notably, after his semi-final goal against AS Roma, Wirtz has already amassed 11 career goals in the Europa League.
Atalanta: Juan Musso - Giorgio Scalvini, Isak Hien, Berat Djimsiti - Davide Zappacosta, Mario Pasalic, Ederson, Matteo Ruggeri - Charles De Ketelaere, Teun Koopmeiners - Gianluca Scamacca. (3-4-2-1)
Bayer Leverkusen: Matej Kovar - Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie - Josip Stanisic, Exequiel Palacios, Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo - Florian Wirtz - Jeremie Frimpong, Amine Adli. (3-4-1-2)
Bayer Leverkusen, deservedly hailed as one of the best teams in European football right now, can counter Atalanta's dynamic blend of flair and power with their relentless all-around play and indomitable spirit.
While this might spell another heartbreak for La Dea, lifting the Europa League trophy would bring the new Bundesliga champions a step closer to achieving an unforgettable treble and cementing their legacy.
Still, we cannot really overlook Atalanta's ability and their impressive results in the competition so far.
