Atalanta secured their first-ever Europa League title with a stunning performance against Bayer Leverkusen, highlighted by a hat-trick from Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.
This victory not only ended Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak but also marked Atalanta’s first goal and trophy in a European final on Wednesday night at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
The team claimed their first trophy in 61 years.
Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a European final since 1975 to secure Atalanta’s first-ever continental trophy.
“One of the best nights of my life. Amazing performance from the team,” said Lookman.
“We’ve got to celebrate, we made history tonight.”
The goals from Lookman came at pivotal moments in the match—scoring in the 12th, 26th, and 75th minutes.
Europa League on its X account posted, “Lookman becomes the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.”
His exceptional performance was instrumental in leading Atalanta to this historic triumph against a Leverkusen team that had recently clinched the Bundesliga title and was a strong favourite heading into the game.
This win caps a remarkable season for Atalanta under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who praised his team’s resilience and preparation leading up to the final.
Leverkusen, despite their impressive unbeaten run and recent domestic success, were unable to secure the treble, with this loss marking a significant setback just days before their German Cup final match.
Bayer Leverkusen, on the other hand, posted on its X, “Today just wasn’t the day. We are incredibly proud of our Europa League journey and all of our fans for taking it with us together.”
