Atalanta have been crowned champions of the 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side defeated German outfit Bayer 04 Leverkusen to win an European trophy for the first time in the club’s 116-year history.
Recall, Bayer Leverkusen stood on the longest unbeaten run in top-flight European football since the introduction of UEFA club competitions as they approached the final.
The final ended in a 3-nil scoreline in favour of the Italian side that just suffered a defeat to Juventus in the Coppa Italia final days prior.
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Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman rose to the occasion to deliver his club side the trophy having previously pegged a goal and assist against Olympique de Marseille to get them to the finals.
The former Everton and Fulham forward found a hat-trick for himself becoming the first ever player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa league final and only the third Nigerian to score a final goal (behind Alex Iwobi for Arsenal and Joe Aribo for Rangers).
Xabi Alonso started the game without a recognized striker despite the availability of Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface.
Lookman opened the scoring on the 12th minute mark getting on the end of Davide Zappacosta’s cutback to set the game going. He added the second with a dazzling solo effort from outside the box in the 26th minute. Finally securing the matchday ball as he received from Gianluca Scamacca in the 75th minute.
Speaking on the game, Atalanta gaffer Gasperini commented: “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”.
Atalanta have now won their first trophy since 1963 and the second in the club’s entire history.
Recall, Lookman’s inspiring African Cup of Nations performance helped get Nigeria to the final of the tournament and with the awards rapidly approaching, he also adds this to his portfolio.
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