May 24 (Xinhua) -- In the UEFA Cup final last night, Leverkusen defeated Atalanta 0-3, regretting not to reach the UEFA Champions League, but also lost the realization of the season
Triple Crown winner
The Opportunity.
Atlanta showed great strength and good form in the match, taking an early lead in the first half and continuing to expand their advantage in the second half. Leverkusen fought back but never managed to break the opponent's defense and eventually lost 0-3.
Leverkusen had a great season in the league, managed to win the title and had already reached the final of the German Cup, and were expected to achieve the triple crown of the UEFA Cup, the league and the German Cup. However, the loss in the UEFA Cup final dashed their dream of a triple crown.
Traditionally, the treble refers to winning the Champions League, the league title and a major domestic cup. Both Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, who are currently participating in the Champions League final, have already confirmed that they are not in the running for the treble.
Additionally, the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League plus the Triple Crown (i.e., the Minor Triple Crown) of the league and domestic cup competitions is also an honor. Although at a slightly lower level, it is still a recognition of a team's strength and consistency. Leverkusen was the only team expected to achieve the mini-triple crown, but their loss in the UEFA Cup final prevented that goal from being realized.
In the UEFA Europa League, Olympiacos have lost the possibility of a mini-triple crown after failing to reach the final of the domestic cup. Fiorentina, on the other hand, failed to achieve enough results in both the league and domestic cup competitions to also miss out on the minor treble.
