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A stunning Ademola Lookman hat-trick handed Atalanta the Europa League title on Wednesday, just the second major trophy in their 117-year history after a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen that ended the German champions’ remarkable unbeaten streak.
Lookman, who struggled to establish himself in the English Premier League with Everton, Fulham and Leicester City before reviving his career in Italy under Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, struck twice inside the first 26 minutes before sealing the win 15 minutes from fulltime.
The victory ended Gasperini’s own two-decade long pursuit of major silverware as his side totally outmatched Xabi Alonso’s formidable Leverkusen side – or ‘Neverlusen’ as they had been dubbed after going an incredible 51 games unbeaten.
But just as they did against Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and three-times finalists Olympique de Marseille in the previous two rounds, Atalanta didn’t give their opponents a sniff to mark their first European final with a famous victory.
‘We deserved it’
“We needed to be attacking, it was not enough just to defend. We know these teams are great at attacking. Everyone was extraordinary,” Gasperini told Sky Sports Italia, referring to the teams his side beat to become the first Italian winners of the competition since Parma 25 years ago.
“The way we did it was the most important thing, we deserved it without a shadow of a doubt against such a strong team. Winning the Europa League is an extraordinary achievement.”
Leverkusen had only failed to score once during the run that featured 42 wins in all competitions and 17 goals scored in or after the 90th minute, but there was no such comeback on Wednesday against the resolute Atalanta backline.
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