Atalanta crushed Bayer Leverkusen to win the 2024 Europa League final on Wednesday night, with winger Ademola Lookman in devastating form at the AVIVA Stadium in Dublin.

Not only was it a first ever European trophy for Atalanta, it spectacularly ended Leverkusen’s unbeaten season. The newly crowned German champions had gone 51 games without losing in all competition prior to arriving in the Irish capital, but Xabi Alonso’s side found themselves completely suffocated by the tactical strength of Gian Piero Gasperini.

Leverkusen weren’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, but Atalanta were just better in every way.

Lookman, once of Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, has seen his previously stop-start career take off since moving to Bergamo in 2022. His breathtaking hat-trick was of the highest quality.

Leverkusen’s Alonso ‘proud’ despite ‘painful’ loss

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso praised his side’s “exceptional” record-breaking unbeaten run but said it hurts that it was ended in the Europa League final.

The German side have been one of the stories of the season, having gone 51 games without defeat as well as winning the Bundesliga.

But their hopes of ending a long wait for European glory were dashed on Wednesday night as they lost 3-0 to Italian side Atalanta at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

It was their first defeat since 27 May last year and, while Alonso was proud of his side’s achievements over the last year, he said the Europa League final loss was tough to take.

“Atalanta were better than us and they deserve the trophy,” the former Liverpool midfielder said.

“It wasn’t our day. We’ve had a bad night. It hurts that it happened in such an important match.”

Source – Atalanta win Europa League with stunning demolition of Bayer Leverkusen (90min.com)

Source – Atalanta 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso on Europa League final loss – BBC Sport