Atalanta BC 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 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.
