Gian Piero Gasperini and his Atalanta side finally put an end to Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible unbeaten streak that spanned 51 games.
Ademola Lookman stole the show in Dublin, scoring the first-ever hat trick in a UEFA Europa League final. Two fantastic strikes in the first 26 minutes were topped off with the pick of the bunch in the 75th minute to ensure the Europa League trophy would be heading back to Bergamo.
Atalanta were excellent, with three stunning strikes and a faultless defensive performance neutralising Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side as they ended the German side’s hopes of a historic unbeaten treble.
The Italian side deservingly picked up their first UEFA trophy, as they completely out-thought Leverkusen on the banks of the River Liffey.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
Atalanta – who fell to a 1-0 defeat last Wednesday in the Coppa Italia final – began the brighter of the two sides as they looked to secure their first major trophy in 61 years. Bayer Leverkusen were poor in possession, with sloppy passes allowing the Italian side to control the opening exchanges.
La Dea sent their first warning to the Bundesliga winners after five minutes as Gianluca Scamacca’s headed effort went wide of the post. Ademola Lookman danced past the Leverkusen defence, before playing the ball off to his left to Matteo Ruggeri – the Argentine delivered the ball towards the far post, but Scamacca couldn’t get a clean header away with Piero Hincapié doing excellently to deny him a clear shot at goal.
But, the Serie A club soon drew first blood as Englishman Ademola Lookman put the Blues ahead in the 12th minute. It was an excellent and rapid move, as a recycled free-kick saw the travelling Atalanta supporters go wild. The move was well worked between Sead Kolašinac and Davide Zappacosta on the right-hand side, with the Italian full-back driving the ball to Lookman – who was completely unmarked – as he calmly slide his left-footed effort into the back of the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesJust 14 minutes later, once again Alonso’s side were the masters of their own downfall. Kovar launched the ball long towards Amine Adil, who couldn’t control the ball, as his loose header found its way to Lookman. From that point on, it was magical for the 26-year-old, whose excellent footwork saw him glide to the edge of the box, cutting across Xhaka and curling an effort into the far right corner. It was a sensational finish as Lookman’s excellence coupled with Leverkusen’s sloppiness saw the Italian side take cruise control in the final.
Leverkusen began to improve in the final 15 minutes of the first half, with Atalanta’s second goal proving to be a wake-up call. However, poor decision making from the German side saw them weather a shower rather than a storm.
Alejandro Grimaldo had a succession of chances before the interval. The first, he rushed as he tried to lob Juan Musso, getting it all wrong and shooting straight into his arms. The second, he mistimed the flight of the ball as an incisive pass was played over the top.
Alonso, who had masterminded several comebacks this campaign rolled the dice at half time, going all or nothing, withdrawing Josip Stanišić for Victor Boniface.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe German league winners had gained a foothold in the second half, as they attempted to reduce the deficit, but they were lacking the clinical cutting edge. They were enjoying all of the ball, and making headway in the final third but failing to get shots away with Musso relatively untested.
After all of their wastefulness, Atalanta finally buried Leverkusen once and for all. Ademola Lookman completed his hat trick in the 75th minute, making him the first player to net three times in a Europa League final.
Leverkusen were dispossessed in Atalanta’s attacking half, and the Italian side broke quickly. Scamacca drove Atalanta forwards, before sliding Lookman in on his left – who still had so much to do. But, Lookman, who couldn’t put a foot wrong all evening was unfazed, as he opened his body up, and smashed a left-footed effort into the top corner. He left Kovář hopeless and secured the Europa League trophy for his side.
Embed from Getty ImagesAtalanta were defensively sound all evening, with Leverkusen failing to trouble the side that finished 5th in Serie A. It was an underwhelming performance from the unbeaten German Champions, as they saw their treble hopes quashed. But, take nothing away from Atalanta, who came with a game-plan an executed it superbly, becoming the first team to defeat Leverkusen this term, as they secured European glory.
The lineups
B04: Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Stanisic; Hincapie, Palacios, Xhaxa, Frimpong; Grimaldo, Wirtz; Adil
ATA: Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Ederson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Scamacca, Lookman