Nigerian Ademola Lookman shone like a shooting star in the final match between Atalanta and Bayer Lervekuasen in the Europa league title.
The dazzling Lookman stunned the Bayer Leverkusen with a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over by the Atalanta.
The Europa League finals win last night makes it just the second major trophy in Atalanta 117-year history.
Bayer Leverkusen have had an incredible season. The won the 2023/2024 German league and were unfortunate to lose to Atalanta at the finals of the Europa League.
Recall that Lookman, had struggled to establish himself in the English Premier League with Everton, Fulham and Leicester City. He, however, moved to Italy under Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
The victory ended Gasperini’s own two-decade long pursuit of major silverware as his side totally outplayed Xabi Alonso’s formidable Leverkusen side – or ‘Neverlusen’. The team had gone incredible 51 games unbeaten.
On the wat to the finals, Atalanta had shocked Premier League heavyweights Liverpool at Anfield. Defeating the Jurgen Klopp side both home and away.
The team had also brushed aside three-times finalists, Olympique de Marseille in the previous two rounds.
On the D-night, Leverkusen started the game looking decidedly unsure of themselves. Their uncharacteristically sloppy play handed the first chance of the game to Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta. Though he couldn’t get enough contact with his header from a fine Matteo Ruggeri cross.
That move from Atalanta showed what the purposeful Italians were up to. They struck within minutes when Davide Zappacosta was allowed far too much space down the right. That was before Lookman beat a flatfooted Exequiel Palacios to the cut back to stroke home the opener.
Another Leverkusen error gifted possession to the Nigeria international forward, as he skipped past one defender. He then curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner from just outside the box that left the keeper no chance.
The stunned Germans tried flashes of how quickly they can turn it on in attack but little came off it. The closest they came was through Charles De Ketelaere who almost savaged a goal.
Notwithstanding the absence of their injured captain, Marten de Roon, Atalanta did not show a shred of debut final nerves.
Even the introduction of another Nigerian talisman, Victor Boniface could not help Leverkusen.
Leverkusen had swapped defender Josip Stanisic for top scorer Boniface at halftime. But it changed little.
Recall that Leverkusen had only failed to score once during the run that featured 42 wins in all competitions. They had scored 17 goals, in or after the 90th minute.
But yesterday, the chances of another comeback faded away against the resolute Atalanta backline.
Lookman completely extinguished them on the counterattack with another stunning strike into the top corner. Making it his third goal of the historic night. The sixth in a major European final and first since Jupp Heynckes’ for Borussia Moenchengladbach in the 1975 UEFA Cup.
In the celebration of the moment, Lookman was flung into the air by his team mates 15 minutes.
The win over Leverkusen brought to an ended Atalanta 61-years wait since their 1963 Italian Cup triumph.
source: The Nation
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