Ademola Lookman was on hearth as he scored a sensational hat trick as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 within the Europa League last on Wednesday, ending Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run and securing their first trophy in 61 years.
Lookman made historical past as the primary participant to attain a hat trick in a European last in 49 years, main Atalanta to their first-ever continental trophy.
The Bergamo facet has lengthy lived within the shadow of close by giants AC Milan and Inter Milan. However, underneath the steering of Gian Piero Gasperini, they’ve entered a golden period, reaching the Champions League on 4 events. Now, they lastly have silverware to indicate for his or her efforts.
Leverkusen have made a behavior of late fightbacks of their exceptional run to profitable a first-ever Bundesliga title with out tasting defeat. But this time they didn’t dig themselves out of a gap created by a sluggish begin.
Atalanta’s extra purposeful play within the opening levels was rewarded after simply 12 minutes. Davide Zappacosta received to the byline and Lookman caught Exequiel Palacios napping to fireplace into the highest nook on the again submit.
The Nigerian has at instances endured a nomadic profession, bouncing across the decrease reaches of the Premier League on mortgage spells at Fulham and Leicester after being discarded by RB Leipzig. But Lookman has discovered a house in Bergamo, the place he’ll now endlessly be a hero.
The 26-year-old’s second objective was match to win any last as he nutmegged Granit Xhaka earlier than curling a strong shot into the far nook.
For the fourth time in seven Europa League knockout matches, Xabi Alonso’s males discovered themselves 2-0 down. Leverkusen’s flying fullbacks have been on the coronary heart of their beautiful season and will have gotten them again within the recreation both facet of halftime.
Alex Grimaldo fired tamely into the arms of Juan Musso earlier than Jeremie Frimpong blazed over with the objective gaping.
Leverkusen had been additionally denied a lifeline when Gianluca Scamacca was fortunate to flee with a yellow card for a wild problem on Florian Wirtz.
Alonso has loved a fast rise to change into considered one of Europe’s hottest teaching properties. The Spaniard has rejected the advances of former golf equipment Liverpool and Bayern Munich to stay on the BayArena subsequent season.
However, Alonso’s determination to begin with out a acknowledged striker didn’t work, and he threw on Victor Boniface at halftime to offer his facet a focus up entrance. The harm, although, was already finished because the German champions appeared a facet drained by their file run throughout three competitions.
Atalanta had been blissful to absorb the Leverkusen strain after the break and hit on the counterattack. The last blow was one other fabulous end from Lookman as he skipped previous Edmond Tapsoba and this time blasted into the highest nook on his weaker left foot.
Atalanta had misplaced all three of their earlier finals underneath Gasperini, most lately in final week’s Coppa Italia defeat to Juventus. But this time they had been to not be denied their shot at historical past as they had been roared throughout the ending line by the 1000’s clad in blue and black that had made the journey from northern Italy to the Irish capital.
In doing so, they grew to become the primary Italian facet to win the competitors since Parma lifted the UEFA Cup in 1999.
Source: www.dailysabah.com