Ademola Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final, as Atalanta BC stunned Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-0 win, dramatically halting the Bundesliga champions’ 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

This was a final match-up that perhaps few would have predicted at the start of the season, with an all-conquering Leverkusen side ending a 22-year wait to compete in a European final against an Atalanta team making their first-ever appearance in a continental showpiece match. It was the Serie A side that struck first in a wonderfully crafted goal courtesy of Lookman, who ghosted into the box completely unmarked and fired a clinical, first-time strike past Matěj Kovář following some delightful link-up play involving Teun Koopmeiners and Davide Zappacosta.

La Dea’s press was continually causing issues for Xabi Alonso’s side, and Lookman made the Bundesliga champions pay again for some more uncharacteristically sloppy play by unleashing an unstoppable right-footed strike into the bottom corner to double Atalanta’s lead. Leverkusen almost had an unexpected lifeline when Florian Wirtz picked out Álex Grimaldo but the Spaniard failed to execute the lob and shot straight at Juan Musso, with the Argentine standing way outside his goal. Alonso’s men had failed to get going in this opening 45 minutes, while the tactically astute Gian Piero Gasperini had seen his game plan come to fruition in Dublin.

Die Werkself came out after the break with greater intensity, and Jeremie Frimpong fired a warning sign for the Bergamo outfit as he lashed a left-footed volley over the bar from Amine Adli’s ball across the box. Alonso’s men desperately needed another comeback which epitomised their season, but were lacking their usual edge against La Dea, who had their cards firmly marked. Ultimately, Lookman extinguished any hopes of Leverkusen forging a way back into this contest with a ferocious angled finish from the left-hand side after being teed up by Gianluca Scamacca.

It is a night that will go down in Atalanta folklore after claiming their first-ever European honours, and one which will be remembered forever by Gasperini, who wins his first major trophy of an already widely-respected managerial career. Meanwhile, it is a case of so close, yet so far for a Leverkusen side that has enthralled and delighted in equal measure, but fell two games short of completing an unprecedented unbeaten treble.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC)

Source: https://www.soccer24.com/match/tWVy3JlJ/#/report[b][/b]

Congrats my guy.

So happy for him. More heights

No Nigerian (or African, if I'm not wrong) has ever played such an obviously prominent role in an European Cup Final.

I saw that game. Very quality goals from Demola. It's a huge showcase for him. Many top clubs will bid for him this Summer. It's a huge plus for the super eagle. The British media are already claiming he developed in Charlton academy. Thank God he's already playing for Nigeria,dem for nationalize him like they did to saka and solanke. UK media are so bias. Chaii.

We are proud of u boy!

Next African Footballer of the year

Lookman on fire

Gareth southgate should include Haruna Lookman into the 23man squad for euros

it was as if he was determine to break the unbeaten run of Leverkusen....

atiku4President:
Next African Footballer of the year

Na so to win Africa player of the year done easy?

OriOko88:
I saw that game. Very quality goals from Demola. It's a huge showcase for him. Many top clubs will bid for him this Summer. It's a huge plus for the super eagle. The British media are already claiming he developed in Charlton academy. Thank God he's already playing for Nigeria,dem for nationalize him like they did to saka and solanke. UK media are so bias. Chaii.

read what u wrote again and think deeply if sense still dey d head.

A

Freshtruth:
Na so to win Africa player of the year done easy?

Who else do you think will challenge him? Are you following African Footballers across the globe at all?

Record ni

Freshtruth:
Na so to win Africa player of the year done easy?

Seems you have beef with Lookman. Wetin the guy do you?

Freshtruth:
read what u wrote again and think deeply if sense still dey d head.

Don't mistake me for ur dullard elder brother at home. Fimi down awon Egbon e Nile yin. Oponu

dreality:

Seems you have beef with Lookman. Wetin the guy do you?

Those guys only support and celebrate their own.



Bitter pandora people.

I remember the guy at Everton as a super sub.




Big congratulations to him!

Vergovert:


Those guys only support and celebrate their own.



Bitter pandora people.

U are really mentally sick...so because he opposed his chances of winning African best , u suddenly brought tribe into it

Beverlyjean:


U are really mentally sick...so because he opposed his chances of winning African best , u suddenly brought tribe into it

Where is the lie?


Is he not Igbo?

We know how you guys praise celebrities from your side, but downplay achievements of celebs from other tribes.


Na today?

Vergovert:


Where is the lie?


Is he not Igbo?

We know how you guys praise celebrities from your side, but downplay achievements of celebs from other tribes.


Na today?

And what makes u think he's igbo ?? People like me have no business here on NL ... u should be banned

Beverlyjean:


And what makes u think he's igbo ?? People like me have no business here on NL ... u should be banned

You are easily identified by your bitterness "i before others" attitude is very conspicuous.


You can't hide it!

OriOko88:
I saw that game. Very quality goals from Demola. It's a huge showcase for him. Many top clubs will bid for him this Summer. It's a huge plus for the super eagle. The British media are already claiming he developed in Charlton academy. Thank God he's already playing for Nigeria,dem for nationalize him like they did to saka and solanke. UK media are so bias. Chaii.

I saw many comments frm foreigners claiming he grew up in UK or something.
Like I was wondering why the obsession with with his origin. So many like that in the comment section of most of the highlights I watched on YouTube

atiku4President:
Next African Footballer of the year

Osimhen dey look u with 1 eye

Osimhen hasn't lost form o.

The 3 goals were scored in such a manner that even his team players thought they were dreaming and so ended up celebrating late each time the ball went in.
In fact his 3rd goal was so stunning that his teammates in the box 18 just stood still for a second in awe

Ademola Lookman was so spectacular tonight.

How do you score 3 stunners with different legs so perfectly?!

dreality:

Seems you have beef with Lookman. Wetin the guy do you?

The "Ademola" in the name is what he probably has beef with. We've seen how they hype "Uches" when they scored penalties or tap-ins lol

Obviously,
That LookMan is from Akwa Ibom.


Anyway I laugh in Swahili 😂😂😂😂

To save himself from stress, the referee blew the final whistle as the ball reached Ademola Lookman.

uscofield:

Ademola Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final, as Atalanta BC stunned Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-0 win, dramatically halting the Bundesliga champions’ 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

This was a final match-up that perhaps few would have predicted at the start of the season, with an all-conquering Leverkusen side ending a 22-year wait to compete in a European final against an Atalanta team making their first-ever appearance in a continental showpiece match. It was the Serie A side that struck first in a wonderfully crafted goal courtesy of Lookman, who ghosted into the box completely unmarked and fired a clinical, first-time strike past Matěj Kovář following some delightful link-up play involving Teun Koopmeiners and Davide Zappacosta.

La Dea’s press was continually causing issues for Xabi Alonso’s side, and Lookman made the Bundesliga champions pay again for some more uncharacteristically sloppy play by unleashing an unstoppable right-footed strike into the bottom corner to double Atalanta’s lead. Leverkusen almost had an unexpected lifeline when Florian Wirtz picked out Álex Grimaldo but the Spaniard failed to execute the lob and shot straight at Juan Musso, with the Argentine standing way outside his goal. Alonso’s men had failed to get going in this opening 45 minutes, while the tactically astute Gian Piero Gasperini had seen his game plan come to fruition in Dublin.

Die Werkself came out after the break with greater intensity, and Jeremie Frimpong fired a warning sign for the Bergamo outfit as he lashed a left-footed volley over the bar from Amine Adli’s ball across the box. Alonso’s men desperately needed another comeback which epitomised their season, but were lacking their usual edge against La Dea, who had their cards firmly marked. Ultimately, Lookman extinguished any hopes of Leverkusen forging a way back into this contest with a ferocious angled finish from the left-hand side after being teed up by Gianluca Scamacca.

It is a night that will go down in Atalanta folklore after claiming their first-ever European honours, and one which will be remembered forever by Gasperini, who wins his first major trophy of an already widely-respected managerial career. Meanwhile, it is a case of so close, yet so far for a Leverkusen side that has enthralled and delighted in equal measure, but fell two games short of completing an unprecedented unbeaten treble.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC)

Source: https://www.soccer24.com/match/tWVy3JlJ/#/report[b][/b]

His current form is like newly activated transformer. He has finally succeeded in dropping Osimeh and Victor Boniface from the race for best upcoming African footballer of the year.

I truly love his pattern of modern football. He delivers in every 8 out of 10 opportunities given to him to score.

History is for the special ones.

Congrats.