Ademola Lookman delivered a performance for the ages to help Atalanta claim their first-ever European title, beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Wednesday . Atalanta’s victory in the Europa League final ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten streak in emphatic fashion. Here are the five biggest talking points from the highly entertaining encounter.
Ademola Lookman’s brilliance was the story of the night. His hattrick shattered Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run and denied Xabi Alonso’s team a historic triumph. Lookman’s first goal came from a cleverly worked move following a corner, with David Zappacosta dribbling into the box and picking out the Nigerian forward at the back post.
This opener boosted Atalanta’s confidence, and they pressed with such intensity that Leverkusen had no answer. Lookman was a constant menace for Edmond Tapsoba and the Leverkusen defence afterwards. His second goal, a right-footed curler after cutting inside helped to further increase Atalanta’s morale and cemented the Italian team’s dominance.
The Super Eagles star’s hattrick was completed in the second half with a thunderous strike into the top corner, following a swift counterattack and a perfectly timed pass from Gianluca Scamacca. Lookman’s performance not only sealed the victory but etched his name into Europa League history. Gian Piero Gasperini, at 66, becomes the oldest manager to win a Europa League final.
For a man who was just five years o.