Ademola Lookman delivered a sensational hat-trick as Atalanta triumphed over Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
This victory marks only the second major trophy in Atalanta’s 117-year history, shattering Leverkusen’s impressive 51-game unbeaten streak.
Lookman, who rejuvenated his career under Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini after struggling in the English Premier League, was the star of the match. He scored twice in the first 26 minutes and sealed the win with a third goal 15 minutes from full-time. Gasperini, celebrating his first major silverware after two decades of coaching, praised his team’s exceptional performance against Xabi Alonso’s formidable Leverkusen, affectionately dubbed ‘Neverlusen’ for their unbeaten run.
Atalanta’s strategic and attacking approach was evident from the start. Lookman’s first goal came early, following a precise cutback from Davide Zappacosta, catching Exequiel Palacios off guard. Moments later, Lookman capitalized on a Leverkusen error, elegantly skipping past a defender and curling a beautiful right-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Despite brief flashes of attacking prowess from Leverkusen, Atalanta’s defense remained steadfast. The Italians showed no signs of debut final nerves, even with the absence of their injured captain, Marten de Roon. Leverkusen’s attempts to shake things up by bringing on top scorer Victor Boniface at halftime were futile against Atalanta’s resolute backline.
Lookman completed his hat trick with a left-footed strike into the top corner, becoming the sixth player to score three goals in a major European final and the first since Jupp Heynckes in 1975. Atalanta’s historic victory also ended their 61-year wait since their 1963 Italian Cup triumph.
Reflecting on the match, Lookman expressed his elation, saying, “It’s one of the best nights of my life. It was an amazing performance from the team. We did it… We made history tonight.” Coach Gasperini echoed this sentiment, celebrating the team’s deserving win and extraordinary achievement.
