Ademola Lookman delivered a stunning performance, scoring a hat trick to lead Atalanta to a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final in Dublin.
The former Everton and RB Leipzig forward showcased his career-best form, helping Gian Piero Gasperini’s team secure their first European trophy. This defeat ended Leverkusen’s impressive 51-game unbeaten streak, which had lasted nearly a year.
Leverkusen’s Unbeaten Run Ends
Leverkusen’s unbeaten run, which spanned 361 days and 51 games, came to a halt against Atalanta. Their last defeat was a 3-0 loss to VfL Bochum in May 2023.
Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso acknowledged the team’s efforts but admitted that Atalanta deserved the win. “It wasn’t lost in terms of attitude, it was a football thing,” Alonso said. “It happens, it’s football, today wasn’t meant to be. They were better.”
Historical Pursuit Thwarted
Leverkusen was aiming for their second European trophy and their first since the 1988 UEFA Cup. This season, they had already secured their first-ever German title, remaining unbeaten in 34 league games.
They hoped to become the first team in European football history to win three major trophies without defeat. However, Atalanta, who had previously eliminated Liverpool in the quarterfinals and Marseille in the semifinals, proved to be a formidable opponent.
Lookman’s Dominance
Atalanta dominated the game from the start, with Lookman giving them a 2-0 lead by halftime. He sealed the victory with a remarkable individual goal in the 75th minute.
Despite Leverkusen’s recent tendency to salvage draws from losing positions, Lookman’s third goal eliminated any chance of a comeback. Alonso reflected on the loss, saying, “It’s exceptional what we have done. Today is painful, but it is deserved as well.”
Future Challenges for Leverkusen
Although Leverkusen failed to complete an unbeaten treble, they still have the opportunity to make history by winning the German Cup against second-tier side Kaiserslautern. Alonso emphasized the importance of handling this defeat positively.
“It’s our first defeat of the season so it will be a test as to how we deal with it because we have a big game on Saturday,” he said. “Normally it happens earlier in the season, but when it happens in such a big game, it hurts. But we have to use this pain in a positive way — it’s football, the normality is not to lose the first game in the 52nd game.”
Conclusion
Ademola Lookman’s remarkable hat trick not only secured Atalanta’s first European trophy but also ended Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run.
As Leverkusen prepares for the German Cup final, they must regroup and focus on using this setback as motivation for future success.
