Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 on Wednesday to win the Europa League final and earn their first trophy in 61 years. The victory came courtesy of a magnificent hat-trick from Nigeria’s Super Eagles attacker, Ademola Lookman.
In order to win Atalanta’s first-ever continental trophy, Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a European final since 1975.
Among the greatest evenings of my life. Incredible work from the group, Lookman remarked.
We must rejoice because we accomplished history this evening.
The Bergamo team has long been overshadowed by the local powerhouses AC and Inter Milan.
Under Gian Piero Gasperini, though, they have had a golden age, qualifying for the Champions League four times, and now they have medals to show for it.
Late comebacks have become a routine for Leverkusen throughout their incredible journey to the first-ever Bundesliga title without ever losing.
However, they were unable to escape the hole that their sluggish start had made.
Granit Xhaka, a midfielder for Leverkusen, lamented that the occasion it didn’t work out for them was during a championship game.
We lost a final today, so it’s bittersweet, but we’ll move on and hopefully win the German Cup on Saturday.
In just 12 minutes, Atalanta’s more deliberate play in the first half was rewarded.
Lookman caught Exequiel Palacios off guard to shoot into the top corner at the back post after Davide Zappacosta reached the by-line.