Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman Stuns Bayer Leverkusen with Hat Trick in Europa League Final
Bayer Leverkusen’s pursuit of a historic unbeaten treble was shattered by a stellar performance from Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat trick to secure a 3-0 victory for Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin.
Lookman, 26, formerly of Everton and RB Leipzig, delivered the performance of his career to help Gian Piero Gasperini’s team win its first European trophy. This defeat marked Leverkusen’s first loss in any competition this season, ending their remarkable unbeaten streak.
Leverkusen’s Unbeaten Streak Ends
Leverkusen’s unbeaten run had lasted an impressive 51 games and 361 days, dating back to a 3-0 defeat against VfL Bochum in May 2023. Manager Xabi Alonso reflected on the loss, stating, “It wasn’t lost in terms of attitude, it was a football thing. It happens, it’s football, today wasn’t meant to be. They were better.”
Despite the disappointment, Alonso acknowledged the team’s achievements, saying, “It’s exceptional what we have done. Today is painful, but it is deserved as well. These defeats in a final, you don’t forget them. We had a big chance, we put everything on today, but it didn’t go as planned, we weren’t on our best level and we will learn from today. How we deal with the pain will be a challenge for us.”
Season Achievements
Leverkusen had an extraordinary season, securing their first-ever German title with an unbeaten record in the Bundesliga, winning 28, drawing 6, and losing none of their 34 league games. They were on track to make history by potentially winning three major trophies without defeat, aiming to add the Europa League and DFB Pokal to their Bundesliga crown.
Atalanta’s Dominant Performance
Atalanta, a Serie A team that eliminated Liverpool in the quarterfinals and Marseille in the semifinals, dominated the Europa League final from the start. Lookman scored twice before halftime and sealed the victory with a brilliant individual goal in the 75th minute. Leverkusen’s recent ability to salvage draws from losing positions offered some hope, but Lookman’s third goal ended any chances of a comeback.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, Leverkusen still has the opportunity to achieve an unbeaten double by winning the German Cup final against second-tier Kaiserslautern in Berlin on Saturday. Alonso emphasized the importance of resilience, saying, “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. 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.”
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on the latest available details at the time of publication. Results and future projections are subject to change based on real-time events and outcomes. For the most current updates, refer to official sources and announcements.
