For the primary time this season, Bayer Leverkusen misplaced a recreation. Atalanta collected its first worldwide trophy by defeating the German facet within the Europa League Last on Wednesday. Leverkusen, which already secured the Bundesliga and might nonetheless win the DFB-Pokal Last, is not going to be the second German facet to win a treble. As an alternative, it’s Atalanta to earn a second prime trophy in its historical past.
One week in the past, Atalanta fell to Juventus within the Coppa Italia Last in a bid to assert a second title in that competitors. Having successfully secured a Champions League spot in Serie A this season, this was the final really significant recreation for the Italian facet.
The distinction within the recreation was Ademola Lookman. The previous Everton, Fulham and Leicester winger scored a hat trick within the Europa League Last. In doing so, the Nigerian is the primary participant to attain a hat trick in a Europa League Last. Apparently, it was Lookman’s first profession hat trick. A disjointed Leverkusen facet by no means appeared like a lot of a risk. Xabi Alonso’s facet, which at all times had a late, dramatic comeback within the playing cards, totaled simply three photographs on track, by no means really testing Juan Musso within the Atalanta web.
That is additionally the crowning second for Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini has been the supervisor of Atalanta for the reason that 2016/17 season, and he has been instrumental in turning Atalanta right into a harmful facet. Regardless of three third-place finishes and a pair of fourth locations, Atalanta lacked a trophy. Three runner-up finishes within the Coppa Italia left the facet annoyed. Now, it’s a European champion sure for a return to the UEFA Champions League.
Atalanta is the primary Italian staff to win the Europa League or UEFA Cup since Parma in 1999.
Lookman’s hat trick guides Atalanta to Europa League dominance
Leverkusen has not been identified to have elite begins to video games. As an alternative, the German outfit made its work identified within the second half, typically counting on late-game dramatics to rescue outcomes. Atalanta took benefit. Twelve minutes into the sport, Lookman reacted the quickest on a cross within the Leverkusen field. His outstretched left foot dunked the ball into the again of the web.
Lookman secured his brace after simply 26 minutes. Sloppy hold-up play from Leverkusen let the ball fall to Lookman. The Nigerian skinned Granit Xhaka earlier than his low curling effort beat Matěj Kovář. Atalanta would carry that two-goal lead into the second half, with Leverkusen struggling to mount any type of offense. Atalanta’s defensive form stunted the creativity of gamers like Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.
By comparability, Atalanta at all times appeared harmful. The very best of Lookman’s three targets was the third. With quarter-hour to play within the 90, Lookman picked up the ball simply outdoors the Leverkusen field. One stepover later, the Nigerian had the area for a thunderous left-footed strike that flew into the highest nook of the aim. That was the second of defeat for Leverkusen, as Xabi Alonso appeared helplessly at a three-goal deficit.
Even Leverkusen, which was unbeatable for the entire season up to now, couldn’t overcome a niche this huge. A lot much less, it did not penetrate the Atalanta protection in any respect. The Italian facet claimed the Europa League on the most important night time within the membership’s historical past.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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