Atalanta's players and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini (1st R) celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
DUBLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Ademola Lookman was the hero of the night as his hat-trick helped Atalanta end Bayer Leverkusen's 51-match unbeaten run to win the UEFA Europa League final here on Wednesday.
Xabi Alonso's side entered the Aviva Stadium as title favorites after clinching its first Bundesliga title in franchise history with 28 wins and six draws. But their quest for a perfect season was shattered just 12 minutes into the game as Lookman fired into the top corner from Davide Zappacosta's angled pass.
Lookman made it 2-0 in the 26th minute with a stunning solo effort as he got past Xhaka outside the box before curling the ball into the far corner. Leverkusen dominated possession but struggled to create chances in the final third and only saw Lookman score his third in the 75th minute with a powerful strike.
As only the sixth player to score a hat-trick in a European final, the Nigerian winger earned Atalanta its first-ever major European trophy, which is also the first major trophy for 66-year-old coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
"These past two years I've been able to take my game to a whole new level. Maybe it could have come earlier, but it has come now. But this is just the beginning. I hope for more nights like this and to just keep getting better and better," said Lookman after the final.
Despite a bitter end to its unprecedented Treble, Leverkusen still has a chance to complete a double with one last game of the season - the German Cup final against second-tier Kaiserslautern this weekend. ■
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman (R) vies with Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman (R) shoots to score his third goal during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman celebrates his first goal during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman celebrates his second goal during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman (1st L) scores his first goal during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Hans Hateboer (L) and Berat Djimsiti celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman (2nd R) celebrates his third goal with teammates during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman celebrates his third goal during the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
Atalanta's head coach Gian Piero Gasperini celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Europa League final match between Atalanta and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Dublin, Ireland, May 22, 2024. (Photo by Michele Maraviglia/Xinhua)
