Atalanta beat record-breaking German champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to win the Uefa Europa League courtesy of a lethal Ademola Lookman hatrick at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The Nigerian scored his first from the far post inside twelve minutes to temporarily silence the incredible Leverkusen support in the ground.
When he made it two midway through the first half, nutmegging Granit Xhaka in the process, it was a sight to see.
His brace made him the first ever African to score twice in the final of a major Uefa competition – but he was not done yet.
With 15 to play, the winger blasted the ball into the top of the net after shifting in from the left, and that was that!
The former Everton man netted more goals on this special night in Dublin than he did in three seasons playing in the Premier League, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in this final since 1975.
After 51 games without defeat in all competitions, Xabi Alonso’s side have finally been beaten.
The result means that dreams of an unprecedented invincible treble are now over. All was not lost for the young side, though. They can still hold their heads high after beating Bayern Munich to claim their first ever Bundesliga crown.
They also still have a chance at a double this season, with their DFB Pokal final coming as soon as Saturday against Kaiserslautern.
The night belonged to Atalanta, though. The Serie A team became the first Italian side to win the UEFA Cup or Europa League since Parma, 25 years ago.
Their cup run will be forever remembered, too, with wins against Marseille and Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool coming along the way.
Pictured above: Atalanta
Image source: @europaleague
