Lookman decides EL final for Atalanta and ends Leverkusen's unbeaten run

Atalanta crowned winners of the Europa League on Wednesday evening. The Italians were too strong for Bayer Leverkusen in the final 3-0, which was no shadow of the team that tore the Bundesliga to pieces this season. It is the first defeat in 52 games for Xabi Alonso's team. Ademola Lookman provided all the goals to become the first player ever to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.

For Leverkusen it meant the third European final in club history. Atalanta had never been to a club final before and so that club experienced its baptism of fire. Dublin, where the final was played, turned blue and black en masse.

In exactly five days it will be a year since Leverkusen last lost an official match. That happened on the last matchday of the Bundesliga. It remained undefeated in the 34 league matches, 12 Europa League matches and 5 cup matches that followed.

The fact that Alonso's team is bursting with self-confidence was hardly visible in the initial phase of the final. The Germans looked tense and were particularly sloppy in possession of the ball. Atalanta gratefully benefited from this.

Within fifteen minutes the Italians brutally took the lead through Lookman. The attacker emerged from the back of Exequiel Palacios at the far post and shot hard and high: 0-1. The Nigerian has nine goals in Serie A this season.

Atalanta was much fiercer in the duels and more careful with the ball, which led to a doubling of the score after half an hour. An attack set up by Teun Koopmeiners ultimately ended up at Lookman.

The attacker passed two Leverkusen defenders and scored flawlessly from outside the box: 0-2. In addition to Koopmeiners, there was also a starting spot for Jeremie Frimpong. This brought the number of Dutch people who appeared at the kick-off to two.

Both teams had small chances to score in the remainder of the first half, but were unable to do so. Among other things, a shot by Charles De Ketelaere in the short corner was cleverly saved by cup goalkeeper Matej Kovar of Leverkusen.

Leverkusen tried after the break, but simply couldn't get it done. Gian Piero Gasperini's team played the match of its life. A cross from Koopmeiners shortly after the break was defused just in time.

For a moment Frimpong thought he could bring the tension back into the match after just under an hour of play, but his rebound after a hard shot from Amine Adli went high. Fifteen minutes before the end it was Lookman's turn again.

The Nigerian proved unstoppable and completed his hat-trick in a masterful manner. After receiving the ball from Gianluca Scamacca, he entered into a sprint duel with his direct opponent, and then scored devastatingly in the far intersection: 0-3.

Ten minutes before the end, Hans Hateboer was also allowed to join in the celebration. The Dutchman saw how his team easily held out and won the first European final ever.

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