Bayer Leverkusen's historic unbeaten run ends with Europa League final loss to Atalanta
Atalanta BC pulled off a dominant 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen to clinch the UEFA Europa League 2023-24 title on Thursday, May 22. The Italian side also ended Bayer Leverkusen’s dream unbeaten run across all competitions to end their 61-year-old silverware drought.
Leverkusen entered the final with 51 unbeaten matches on their back and as favourites to bag their second European competition title. But Xabi Alonso’s men were stunned by the former Everton forward Ademola Lookman who recorded a brilliant hat-trick at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Lookman scored two first-half goals and then celebrated his hat-trick with his third goal in the second half. The English forward became the only sixth player to score a hat-trick in the major UEFA finals and the first in the last 50 years.
Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini led his team to their first-ever major trophy after an impressive campaign in Serie A where they target a Champions League berth next season. Gasperini, 66, became the oldest coach to win the UEFA Europa League.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen, who clinched the Bundesliga title with a memorable unbeaten season, will be facing FC Kaiserslautern in the German Cup 2024 final on Saturday, May 25.
More to follow…