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• 'Maybe we can change that' - De Roon believes Atalanta can end Leverkusen unbeaten run

  Atalanta captain Marten de Roon believes they have what it takes to end Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten season in the Europa League final.

  De Roon will not be available for La Dea in Dublin on Wednesday due to injury but has joined up with the squad to offer his support.

  Atalanta have had a memorable campaign, reaching their first European final and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

  Leverkusen, meanwhile, claimed their first-ever Bundesliga title without losing a single game and are aiming to complete a treble.

  Despite coming up against a tough opponent, De Roon is confident that his side will be able to end their 61-year drought without a major trophy.

  "Every team is beatable. At the moment, [Leverkusen] seem unbeatable, but maybe we are the ones who can change that," he said in the pre-match press conference.

  "We have to believe in our philosophy, play attacking football and try to beat them. You don't win a trophy if you don't beat the best.

  "We have had a great campaign, and we fully deserve to be here. Both sides deserve to be playing this final. Let's see who will manage to lift the trophy.

  Atalanta narrowly missed out in the Coppa Italia final to Juventus earlier this month, and Gian Piero Gasperini is now preparing to manage his first-ever European final.

  The Italian praised Leverkusen but stressed the belief he has in his own team after an impressive campaign.

  He said: "We are aware that we are facing a great team. We know that they are undefeated, and we know that they have had an amazing season.

  "Our journey, however, was also very good as we beat very strong teams to reach the final, and we also have belief.

  "Leverkusen are a complete team; extremely organised. They are versatile, they can defend and recover the ball well.

  "The results they have achieved this season are not an accident. Certainly, small details can make the difference in a final. We have to respect them and try to adapt quickly to the opponents we are facing."

• Alonso: Self-confidence is driving Leverkusen forward

  Xabi Alonso says Bayer Leverkusen are driven by self-confidence in their ability to win games ahead of the Europa League final.

  Leverkusen are chasing the second trophy in a potential treble against Atalanta in Dublin on Wednesday, with the DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern to follow on Saturday.

  The Bundesliga champions became the first German team to go unbeaten on their way to the title and are currently on a 51-match run without defeat in all competitions.

  Alonso is taking charge of his first European final as a manager, but he believes his team will draw on the experience they have already gained this season.

  "Our self-confidence keeps driving us on. We know that we can produce goals until the final minute," he said in his pre-match press conference. "That's a huge development that the team has made this season.

  "From the start of the campaign, we believed in our brand of football and that's right at the heart of this successful run.

  "We'll prepare like we did for all the games before. We haven't lost in 51 games, so my boys know how to adapt to different situations. That also applies to the final.

  "What matters above all tomorrow is mentality. We have a game plan, but the players still have that wonderful atmosphere from the title celebrations on Saturday, and we want to tap into that."

  Alonso is the youngest coach to manage a men’s European final since Roberto Di Matteo oversaw Chelsea’s Champions League victory in 2012.

  He will also become just the fourth person to play in and manage a major European final this century after also playing in the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals with Liverpool.

  Reflecting on his time at Leverkusen, Alonso said: "I was so young in this coach career, so when I was offered the Leverkusen job, so it was 'let's go, let's see what happens'.

  "In one year and a half, so much has happened; it has been a great experience, and it has only been a year and a half, but we have made so many right decisions.

  "I think we have great chemistry.  The mentality we have shown throughout the year has been fantastic. I am really enjoying it."

• Putellas signs two-year deal with Barcelona

  Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas has signed a two-year deal until 2026, the club announced on Thursday.

  Putellas was due to be out of contract next month, but extends her 12-year relationship with Barcelona, with the new deal also including an option for an additional season.

  The 30-year-old is a two-time Ballon d’Or winner in 2021 and 2022, though she has struggled with injuries that have kept her sidelined since winning the second.

  Overall, she has made 424 appearances, scoring a record 189 goals for the club, playing a pivotal role in Barcelona’s recent domination in women’s football.

  Putellas has won 29 major trophies with Barcelona and is looking for another on Saturday when they face Lyon in the Champions League final.

  Having already clinched Liga F, the Copa de la Reina and the Spanish Supercopa this season, Putellas can help Barcelona to complete an unprecedented quadruple with a win over the French champions.