Ademola Lookman scored a sensational hat-trick as Atalanta ended a 61-year trophy drought while devastating Bayer Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season in the Europa League final at a boisterous Aviva Stadium.

Both sides brought a huge amount of support and colour to Dublin for what was Atalanta’s first European final and only Leverkusen’s third.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost in 51 games this season and were only two matches from perfection.

But former Charlton Athletic winger Lookman had other ideas.

He placed the opening goal in the top corner from Davide Zappacosta’s cutback.

And his second would have lit up any European final, as he nutmegged Granit Xhaka before bending a fantastic shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Lookman's third was equally as good, a step-over beating Edmond Tapsoba before he fired into the roof of the net.

Leverkusen, whose story has been filled with amazing, dramatic comebacks, could not fashion another this time.

Thanks to Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical masterclass, a wonderful pressing game and Lookman, Atalanta now have a second trophy to add next to the 1963 Coppa Italia in their cabinet in Bergamo.

And it books them a place in next season’s Champions League, which was not yet guaranteed through Serie A.

All eyes were on Dublin for Leverkusen’s unbeaten run - but Atalanta and Lookman were not worried about that.

Gasperini has transformed Atalanta, previously a yo-yo club, into European regulars since his 2016 arrival - but the one thing missing was a trophy.

Atalanta had lost all three Coppa Italia finals under Gasperini, including last week to Juventus.

They were fired up for the biggest game in their history and came flying out of the traps.

Zappacosta found space and his cutback was fired home by London-born Nigeria international Lookman, a 2022 signing from German side RB Leipzig.

Several figures from Atalanta’s bench ran onto the pitch to celebrate the goal, such was the importance of it.

The ex-Everton, Fulham and Leicester man doubled their lead - and they never really looked back.

It was the quickest two-goal lead a team have had in the tournament final since Liverpool against Alaves in 2001 when it was called the Uefa Cup.

And Lookman had one more great moment in store, as he bamboozled Tapsoba before netting only the sixth European final hat-trick.

The last was all the way back in the 1975 Uefa Cup final by Jupp Heynckes for Borussia Monchengladbach.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1005 HRS, MAY 23, 2024
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