Matteo Ruggeri insists Atalanta must play ‘without pressure’ in the Europa League Final against Bayer Leverkusen this evening, as they use an all-attack formation.

It kicks off at the Dublin Arena at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

This is the first UEFA Final for the Bergamo boys, who eliminated the likes of Liverpool, Olympique Marseille and Sporting CP this season.

“It is a fantastic day for us, the journey we have been on and we want to play without pressure, to the maximum of our capabilities, and we’ll see what happens,” Ruggeri told Sky Sport Italia.

How did the Atalanta youth academy product and his teammates prepare for this historic event in Dublin?

“We were all united, we must have no pressure and a clear mind, as I think that is the secret to playing games like this. We must play the way we always do with our determination, try to limit their qualities and make the most of our own.”

Historic Atalanta occasion

They also lost the Coppa Italia Final 1-0 to Juventus last week, although were missing suspended Gianluca Scamacca, and already guaranteed their Champions League qualification.

“It could be a similar match to the Coppa Italia, we must play at our best.”

This time, Scamacca starts with Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere and Teun Koopmeiners all together in a very attacking formation under coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

There are circa 8,000 Atalanta fans in the Dublin Arena for the event, plus another 16,000 gathering in the town square in Bergamo to watch on giant screens.

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