In an electrifying Europa League final, Ademola Lookman delivered an unforgettable performance, scoring a hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s first-ever continental trophy.
The Nigerian winger’s stellar display propelled the Italian side to a commanding victory over Bayer Leverkusen, dashing the German team’s dream of an unbeaten treble.
Lookman’s first goal came just 12 minutes into the match.
After Davide Zappacosta made a darting run to the by-line, Lookman capitalised on a lapse in concentration by Exequiel Palacios, firing a precise shot into the top corner.
His second goal, which within the next 14 minutes, was nothing short of spectacular. Receiving the ball near the edge of the box, Lookman deftly manoeuvred past Granit Xhaka, nutmegging the former Arsenal star before unleashing a stunning long-range effort that left the Leverkusen goalkeeper helpless.
This early brace set the tone for the match and proved pivotal in dismantling Leverkusen’s strategy.
Despite their resilience, Lookman struck again in the second half to complete his hat-trick, becoming the first player to score three goals in a European final since
It’s one of the best nights of my life. Amazing performance from the team, Lookman said post-match. We’ve got to celebrate; we made history tonight.
Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka, while acknowledging the disappointment, remained hopeful for the future. “It’s bitter. We lost a final today, but we go on, and we’ll make up for it on Saturday (in the German Cup final),” he stated.
For Atalanta, the victory marks a significant milestone in the club’s history, cementing Lookman’s place as a hero in Bergamo.
The Nigerian, who previously struggled with loan spells at Fulham and Leicester, has found a home at Atalanta, where his contributions will be remembered for years.
The defeat is a significant blow to Bayer Leverkusen, who had hoped to complete a historic treble after winning the Bundesliga title without a single loss.
They now focus on the DFB Pokal final against FCK, hoping to salvage their season with a domestic double.
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