ADEMOLA LOOKMAN BURIES LEVERKUSEN TO WIN EUROPA LEAGUE
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Ademola Lookman wrecked Bayer Leverkusen’s pursuit of a historic unbeaten treble by scoring a stunning hat-trick to seal Europa League glory for Atalanta in Dublin.
Former Everton and RB Leipzig forward Lookman, 26, produced the performance of his career as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team upset the odds to win their first European trophy and consign Leverkusen to defeat for the first time in any competition this season.
Leverkusen’s unbeaten run had lasted 51 games and 361 days, stretching back to a 3-0 defeat against VfL Bochum in May 2023.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had sealed their first-ever German title this season by winning 28, drawing 6 and losing none of their 34 league games.
They had been heavily tipped to become the first team in European football history to win three major trophies without defeat by adding the Europa League and DFB Pokal (German Cup) to their Bundesliga crown.
But Italian Serie A side Atalanta, who eliminated Liverpool at the quarterfinal stage before beating Marseille in the semifinals, dominated the game from start and Lookman gave them a 2-0 half-time lead before sealing a memorable victory with an outstanding individual goal on 75 minutes.
Leverkusen’s recent run of salvaging draws from losing positions had kept this game alive until Lookman’s third goal ruled out any prospect of a late fightback.
But having failed to complete an unbeaten treble, Leverkusen can still create history by sealing an unbeaten double if they defeat second-tier side Kaiserslautern in Saturday’s German Cup final in Berlin.
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