May, 23 2024.
Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman etched his name into the history books with a sensational hat-trick, propelling Atalanta to a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final. This triumph marks Atalanta's first-ever European trophy and ends Bayer Leverkusen's impressive unbeaten run this season.
Lookman’s outstanding performance not only secured the win but also earned him several historic accolades:
- First player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
- First Atalanta player to score in a European final.
- Third Nigerian to score in a Europa League final.
- First team to defeat Bayer Leverkusen this season.
The victory is a monumental milestone for Atalanta, representing their first European trophy in the club's history. It also signifies the first major trophy in the managerial career of Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been instrumental in leading the team to this historic achievement.
The atmosphere was electric as Lookman’s goals in the final brought jubilation to Atalanta fans and heartbreak to Leverkusen supporters, whose dreams of an undefeated season and a treble were dashed.
Lookman scored the opener in the 12th minute through superior sharpness, before hitting a curler for his brace in the 26th minute. He secured his hat trick in the 75th with a strong shot to beat the bayer defence.