London-born Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman delivered a sensational hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, clinching the Europa League title on Wednesday. Lookman scored twice within the first 26 minutes and sealed the win 15 minutes from full-time, marking just the second major trophy in Atalanta’s 117-year history.
“We played a fantastic game tonight. In all areas, I think from the first minute we showed our intent. We played a fantastic first half. And in the second half, we didn’t rest on our laurels. We kept pushing,” Lookman remarked.
His three goals made him only the sixth player to score a hat-trick in a European final, the last being in 1975. His performance was characterized by stealth in the penalty area, balance on the ball, deft footwork, and precise shooting with both feet.
Atalanta's hero 🏆#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/eMWGTrApCV
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2024
Lookman had struggled to establish himself in the English Premier League before reviving his career in Italy. Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted he was not expecting a pure striker when Lookman joined the club two years ago.
The forward credited the love and support from his family and his African roots, the trust from Gasperini, and the calmness of life in Bergamo for his success. “I’ve always had the confidence in my ability to create, to score goals, to help my teammates. In the past two years, I’ve been able to take my game to a new level,” he said after the game.
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