Atalanta secure a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium!
The Italian side didn’t create a host of chances, but they took their opportunities when needed and got their hands on the trophy. Leverkusen struggled to create in the final third, and they were far from clinical.
⚫️🔵 Gasperini: “It’s not just that we won, it’s *how* we won!”.
“We’ve beaten Liverpool when they were top of PL table, Sporting and now Bayer Leverkusen… we are extremely proud”. pic.twitter.com/gG9yrv3l5b
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 22, 2024
Gasperini’s side opened the scoring in the first half as Lookman latched on to a low cross from Zappacosta, firing into the back of the net from close range. Shortly after, the Nigerian winger grabbed his second in style, cutting in from the left, nutmegging Xhaka, and sending a curling effort into the bottom corner.
The Italian side sat back after the break, looking to counter-attack as Alonso’s men dominated the possession, and they found a third late in the game. Scamacca drove through the middle of the pitch before picking out Lookman, and the former Everton man’s powerful strike nestled in the top corner, securing his hat-trick! Leverkusen were unbeaten in all competitions going into this one, but Atalanta have dealt them a double blow, ending their run and lifting the trophy.
Atalanta have won their first ever major European trophy – they’re the 10th different Italian side to do so, second only to sides from England (13).
CAMPIONIIIIIIIII 🖤💙🏆🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/VAS0vMhksU
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) May 22, 2024
Bayer Leverkusen are the first team to win the league title but lose the UEFA Cup/Europa League final in the same season since Benfica in 2013-14, and the first German side to do since Borussia Dortmund in 2001-02.
Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick for Atalanta was the sixth to be scored in a major UEFA final. It was the first since Jupp Heynckes’ for Borussia Mönchengladbach against FC Twente in 1975, which was the only other one to be scored in a UEFA Cup/Europa League final.
