Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen were handed a shocking 3-0 defeat as Atalanta won the UEFA Europa League 2023-24 final. Despite having a perfect season so far after winning a historic Bundesliga title, Bayer Leverkusen was considered to be the heavyweights heading into the final. However, Ademola Lookman turned out to be the hero of the night as his hat trick sealed the win for Atalanta.
Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta started the final in a similar fashion, with both sides applying quick pressure every time the opposition had possession. Although, Leverkusen didn’t look quite as comfortable as they have been this season, with their midfield struggling to link the passes. On the other hand, Atalanta looked rather dangerous on the break, with the likes of Gianluca Scamacca and Ademola Lookman threatening the Bayer defense.
🔵⚫️🏆 Atalanta win the Europa League making history!
They are also the ONLY team able to beat Bayer Leverkusen this season, after 51 games undefeated.
It’s their second trophy EVER after Coppa Italia, 61 years ago 😮🇮🇹
Magic night for Gian Piero Gasperini and his team. pic.twitter.com/M6rkkY59bm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 22, 2024
It was Atalanta who broke the deadlock in the first half with Lookman tapping in the opener after a cross from Zappacosta. While Leverkusen continued to be wasteful in front of the goal, Lookman doubled Atalanta’s lead in the 26th minute. The Nigerian winger sealed the victory for his side in the 75th minute with a hat trick as he handed Atalanta a historic win over the Bundesliga winners.
⚫️🔵 Gasperini: “It’s not just that we won, it’s *how* we won!”.
“We’ve beaten Liverpool when they were top of PL table, Sporting and now Bayer Leverkusen… we are extremely proud”. pic.twitter.com/gG9yrv3l5b
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 22, 2024
After the match, Atalanta’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini perfectly explained how he left Xabi Alonso‘s 51-game-unbeaten team shell-shocked. He said, “We often play with the trident, there were all the conditions to do it, we had to play for the win in a Final.” The 66-year-old head coach explained how he had devised a game plan to keep attacking Leverkusen and not just sit back and defend, a plan that his players executed to perfection.
Gasperini congratulated his players for winning the Europa League, admitting that his team were the deserving winners. The Italian manager further praised his side for not only winning the title but also for competing valiantly against some of the best teams like Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool, whom they defeated in the quarterfinal.
Atalanta’s hat trick hero Ademola Lookman gets “third time lucky”
It was a night of jubilation for Ademola Lookman as his emphatic hat trick sealed Atalanta’s first Europa League title. The Atalanta winger put in a man-of-the-match performance as he proved to be too hot to handle for the Bayer Leverkusen defense. The England-born Nigerian international also became the first player ever to score a hat trick in the Europa League final.
“One of the best nights of my life”
MOTM Ademola Lookman on scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7KBqD4xnx1
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 22, 2024
Speaking after the match, Lookman admitted that it was one of the best nights of his life. Reflecting on losing the AFCON final with Nigeria in February this year and the Coppa Italia final earlier this month, Lookman said, “Yeah, 3rd time lucky. I am just happy we won, we won today. Gotta celebrate, we made history tonight.”
The 26-year-old Nigerian star is bound to go down as a legend in Atalanta’s history after his heroics against Leverkusen. Lookman’s treble not only secured the first European title in Atalanta’s history but it was also the Italian side’s first title after a long wait of 61 years since their Coppa Italia victory way back in 1963.