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Ademola Lookman netted a sublime hat-trick as Atalanta produced an inspired performance in the Europa League Final in Dublin to end Leverkusen’s invincible campaign.
The Charlton Athletic Academy product scored twice in 14 first-half minutes and sealed his treble late on as La Dea claimed their first silverware in 61 years and just the second in their 116-year history.
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Gian Piero Gasperini masterminded the victory with a tactical masterclass which overshadowed Xavi Alonso, who saw his side lose for the first time in 361 days, ending their record 51-match unbeaten run.
ATALANTA HAVE DONE IT! ⚫️🔵#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/d6Tw1L3IcD
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2024
Atalanta flew out of the blocks with high energy and aggressive pressing and Leverkusen looked far from the composed side which topped the Bundesliga in such style.
The Italians took a deserved lead in the 12th minute when 26-year-old Lookman nipped in to beat the static Exequiel Palacios to a low ball across the area from Davide Zappacosta and slam a left-footed shot into the top corner of Matej Kovar’s goal.
Leverkusen rallied briefly and Josip Stanisic might have done better than shoot straight at Juan Musso but Lookman then doubled the lead with a sublime solo goal on 26 minutes.
Former Swindon and Burton loanee Kovar’s clearance to midfield was knocked back into his own half by Amine Adli where Lookman picked up the ball, slipped it through Granit Xhaka’s legs 20 yards from goal and bent a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
Out-of-sorts Leverkusen tried to recover but Alex Grimaldo could only shoot tamely into the arms of Musso as he flew off his line just after the half-hour and Xhaka later whipped a bouncing shot past the post.
Former West…
Source link : https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/atalanta-3-0-bayer-leverkusen/
Author : Alex Hoad
Publish date : 2024-05-22 20:55:47
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