Ademola Lookman etched his name into the annals of football history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final, propelling Atalanta BC to a stunning 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. This win not only marked Atalanta’s maiden European trophy but also ended Leverkusen’s remarkable 51-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
The final, held in Dublin, was an unexpected showdown. Leverkusen, the Bundesliga champions, had waited 22 years for another shot at European glory, while Atalanta made their first appearance in a continental final. Despite Leverkusen’s stellar season, it was Atalanta who struck first. Lookman found himself unmarked in the box and coolly slotted home a first-time strike past Matěj Kovář, following a slick interplay between Teun Koopmeiners and Davide Zappacosta.
Atalanta’s aggressive pressing style continually disrupted Leverkusen’s rhythm. Lookman capitalized on this with his second goal, a powerful right-footed drive into the bottom corner, exploiting another defensive lapse. Leverkusen had a golden opportunity to halve the deficit when Florian Wirtz set up Álex Grimaldo, but the Spaniard’s lob was comfortably saved by Juan Musso, who was caught off his line.
Despite a sluggish first half, Leverkusen emerged with renewed vigor after the break. Jeremie Frimpong came close with a left-footed volley over the bar from an Amine Adli cross. However, their famed resilience and attacking flair were blunted by Atalanta’s disciplined defense and strategic acumen under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Any hopes of a Leverkusen comeback were dashed when Lookman completed his hat-trick. Latching onto a pass from Gianluca Scamacca, Lookman unleashed a fierce angled shot from the left, sealing the win and writing a new chapter in Atalanta’s history.
The victory not only brought Atalanta their first European honors but also handed Gasperini his first major trophy, cementing his reputation as a tactically astute manager. For Leverkusen, it was a bitter end to an otherwise extraordinary season, as they fell just short of an unprecedented unbeaten treble.
This night will forever be remembered by Atalanta fans and will stand as a testament to the club’s rise in European football, highlighted by Lookman’s historic hat-trick and Gasperini’s masterful game plan.
