James Horncastle on landmark night for Atalanta in UEFA Europa ...

TNT Sports Italian football expert James Horncastle described Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen as the "climax of Gian Piero Gasperini’s tenure" when the two sides meet in Dublin on Wednesday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. 

La Dea will be making their first-ever appearance in a European final when they take on Xabi Alonso’s all-conquering Bundesliga champions, and Horncastle reviewed the incredible journey which Atalanta have taken to this point.

“It's set up to be the great night in the club's history,” he told TNT Sports.

“They've never been to a European final before and the closest they've been was in the late 80s when they reached a Cup winners Cup semi-final as a team that was in the second division at the time, which was remarkable in itself.

“This feels like it's the climax of Gian Piero Gasperini's tenure at the club, in that they have broken a lot of club records over his time in charge. They've gone from being a yo-yo club whose primary objective was to stay up, to one that has established themselves in the European places, be that qualifying for the Europa League under him, then the Champions League and even given the impression for a couple of years that they could win the league in Italy.

“The only thing that's been missing throughout Gasperini's time at the club is a trophy, as they've been to three Coppa Italia finals and lost them all.

“This is their first European final, and it would be very special if they were able to crown everything they had done in the last seven years with a European trophy. The Italian clubs used to dominate the UEFA Cup in the 90s, the forerunner of this trophy, but they've not won this trophy since 1999 when Parma won it. So, for Atalanta to do it would be really special.”

Atalanta have already sealed a top-five finish in Serie A this season to secure a UEFA Champions League berth, easing the pressure to win on Wednesday to seal a return to Europe’s elite cup competition.

Horncastle highlighted just how important Champions League football has already been in allowing Gasperini to constantly freshen up his squad.

He explained: “What's more important in modern-day football? Trophies or qualifying for the Champions League?

“The Champions League brings so much revenue for clubs and has been transformational for Atalanta to qualify for a fourth time for the Champions League under Gasperini. It's allowed him to rebuild several teams, but fans remember trophies and this continues their trajectory of being a really good cup team.

“I think it's a night that they will savour regardless of the outcome. Knowing that it is their first European final, it already feels like an achievement in itself. These players will of course want to win it, but will be proud come what may in Dublin on Wednesday night.”

Xabi Alonso’s side will be the strong favourites to win the trophy in the Republic of Ireland capital, but Horncastle believes that the Bundesliga side have a chink in their armour.

“Leverkusen are an historic team in what they've done this year, but they also give up chances, and Atalanta are a team that create and take chances,” he added.

“Even though they sold Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United last summer, Gianluca Scamacca, Charles De Ketelaere and Teun Koopmeiners have all been involved in more than 20 goals this season.

“They are not part of that old-fashioned Italian stereotype of a team that's going to sit back on the counter and look to win a game 1-0. If they win a game 4-3, they'll be happy.”

The 2024 UEFA Europa League final featuring Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta will begin from 7pm on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+, live from the Dublin Arena. 

There will be expert analysis from a team including Peter Crouch, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves.

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