Bayern Leverkusen went into the UEFA Europa League Final against Atalanta high on confidence as they were crowned the champions of Germany just a few days before. They were unbeaten throughout the season and it looked like the Europa League was destined to be theirs. However, Italian side Atalanta had other plans as their star player Ademola Lookman scored a hat trick in the final to lead them to a 3-0 win.
Despite going 0-2 down in the first half, Bayern Leverkusen were expected to have answers for Atalanta in the second half. However, Gasperini put on a masterclass in defense and gave Xabi Alonso’s men one of the toughest challenges they had faced so far this season. Lookman scored his third goal in the 75th minute to seal the deal for the Italians. The Nigerian’s performance in the final has helped him become the first player to score a hat trick in a European final since 1975.
While many expected Leverkusen to win the game, Atalanta was always going to be a tough side to break down. Atalanta’s win in Dublin helped them get to their first European trophy. The Italians had made their way to the final after beating the likes of Sporting Lisbon, Liverpool and Marseille, all three teams with stellar seasons in domestic football, making their achievement a little more special.
Gasperini has turned the fortunes for Atalanta
Gian Gasperini has been at Atalanta since 2016. Since his arrival, the team has been grabbing headlines as they made multiple European appearances and become one of the best teams in Italy. The 2024 Europa League triumph is his first trophy as a coach and his journey to get there has been nothing short of amazing. Having managed teams like Inter Milan and Genoa, he always had the pedigree to be a winning coach, but Atalanta always fell short.
Just last week, Atalanta missed out on winning the Copa Italia after losing in the final to Inter Milan. This was the third time that the club had lost in the final of the tournament under Gasperini. His iconic formation of playing three defenders at the back has helped Atalanta cause trouble for many big European teams.
Gasperini’s team has played some of the best sides in Europe, but they have stayed unfazed throughout those challenges. Their win against Leverkusen was just another example of that. While many may consider it an off day for Leverkusen, it certainly was not as Atalanta worked hard to get the three goals. They pressed the Germans up top and won the ball in dangerous positions, which helped them get to a win.
Lookman certainly was the surprise of the night as even Gasperini did not think that he would be this impactful for Atalanta. The Nigerian had experience playing in the Premier League but was never considered a terrific talent. However, playing under Gasperini has transformed his fortunes and made him a player with a hat trick in a European final.
