Atalanta BC have won a European trophy for the first time in the club’s 116-year history, defeating Bayer Leverkusen courtesy of a hat-trick from Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.
This victory not only ended Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak but also marked Atalanta’s first goal and trophy in a European final.
Gasperini’s team had lost to Juventus in the final of the Coppa Italia seven days earlier, but they recovered from that setback to knock Leverkusen out of their stride.
The goals from Lookman came at pivotal moments in the match—scoring in the 12th, 26th, and 75th minutes.
His exceptional performance was instrumental in leading Atalanta to this historic triumph against a Leverkusen team that had recently clinched the Bundesliga title and was a strong favourite heading into the game.
Lookman had joined Everton from Charlton in 2017, but things would not work out between the winger and the Merseyside club, with Lookman going out on loan to RB Leipzig before sealing a permanent move.
He’d later go out on loan to Fulham and Leicester before ultimately moving to Atalanta in 2022.
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