Atalanta clinch the Europa League 2023/24, Lookman scored a hat-trick,

Atalanta demonstrated exceptional strength to end Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive 51-match unbeaten streak, thereby clinching the Europa League title for the 2023/24 season.

Bayer Leverkusen entered the Europa League final with an impressive 51-match unbeaten streak. Alonso’s team was considered stronger on paper, but reality turned out differently.

The match started with an open game, where Bayer often had control of the ball and actively sought scoring opportunities. However, just as the German side was regaining momentum, they unexpectedly had to retreat.

In the 12th minute, capitalizing on Zappacosta’s troublesome cross, Lookman appeared to surge forward from the pitch to execute a perfect close-range touch, breaking the deadlock of the match.

Building on that momentum, in the 26th minute, Lookman showcased his class with a skillful dribble past Xhaka before unleashing a powerful shot from 10 meters out, beating goalkeeper Kovar and doubling the lead for the home team.

Trailing by two goals, Leverkusen seemed to lose spirit. Despite their efforts to attack, the Bundesliga champions couldn’t find a goal before halftime.

Entering the second half, Alonso made early substitutions, bringing Boniface onto the field. However, the deadlock continued as Atalanta switched to a defensive stance, focusing on counterattacks.

In the 75th minute, Leverkusen faced another penalty when Lookman, once again, surged forward and finished with a shot into the far corner that couldn’t be stopped. The Nigerian striker etched his name in history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a C2 final.

Pre-match analysis: Bayer Leverkusen vs Atalanta: Historic goals not exclusive to anyone!