Ademola Lookman scored a sensational hat-trick as Atalanta ended a 61-year trophy drought while devastating Bayer Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season in the Europa League final at a boisterous Aviva Stadium.
Both sides brought a huge amount of support and colour to Dublin for what was Atalanta’s first European final and only Leverkusen’s third.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost in 51 games this season and were only two matches from perfection.
But former Charlton Athletic winger Lookman had other ideas.
He placed the opening goal in the top corner from Davide Zappacosta’s cutback.
And his second would have lit up any European final, as he nutmegged Granit Xhaka before bending a fantastic shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Lookman’s third was equally as good, a step-over beating Edmond Tapsoba before he fired into the roof of the net.
Leverkusen, whose story has been filled with amazing, dramatic comebacks, could not fashion another this time.
Thanks to Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical masterclass, a wonderful pressing game and Lookman, Atalanta now have a second trophy to add next to the 1963 Coppa Italia in their cabinet in Bergamo.
And it books them a place in next season’s Champions League, which was not yet guaranteed through Serie A.
