The Bergamo team beat the Bundesliga champions 3-0 in Dublin, ending the Aspirin club’s historic unbeaten streak and winning the first continental crown in their history. It was Ademola Lookman, author of a hat trick.
You never forget the first time. And if you beat the fashionable team of European football in the final, it becomes even more unforgettable and transcendent. Atalanta dealt a real blow by being crowned champions of the Europa League against super Bayer Leverkusen, monarch of the Bundesliga from start to finish and who reached the Dublin final with a record as extensive as it is historic. By all accounts, what the Italian team has done is remarkable. It was a resounding 3-0.
It was about the first continental final for The Dea (The Goddess, in Spanish), How is the cast known? nerazzurri, who had the pleasure of knocking out Liverpool and Olympique de Marseille, respectively in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Most of the betting was on the Germans, who descended on the Irish capital’s Aviva Stadium with a streak of 51 games without losing this campaign (opting for a maximum of 53). The Aspirinas club won the old UEFA Cup during the 1987-1988 season.
The final got off to a close, fast and intense start, with similar draws within the teams. Almost mirrored, looking for duels. In this direction, Atalanta came out to press and take control of Leverkusen. This proposal benefited Bergamo because before half an hour they were leading 2-0.
The proper name of the duel was Ademola Lookman . The Nigerian striker, born in England, is the left winger of the Bergamasco team. In the 12th minute, he opened the scoring by appearing on the left wing and linking a cross behind Zappacosta. Argentina’s Exequiel Palacios did not reach the crossroads and ended up being a luxury spectator of the score. This hegemony that the Italian club exercised in the first part of the match was consolidated with another goal from Lookman. In the 26th minute, the African seemed to make the score 2-0, hanging on towards the center and unleashing a shot that beat goalkeeper Kovar’s stretch.
Although the statistics indicate that Atalanta recorded 43% possession in the first half, the concrete is that this possession was more aggressive, harassing the rival and being lively in every approach. In the other area, Xabi Alonso’s team showed nothing that dazzled the world of international football. The pharmacists’ hope rested on their incredible power to return to the games in the final part of them.
A certain reaction was expected from Leverkusen, not only to get back to the final, but also to be able to show the good football they have been playing almost all season. The Bundesliga hangover lasted a long time, as The Germans never found answers to undermine the solid structure put in place by experienced coach Gian Piero Gasperini, the architect of the sustained growth of Atalanta, a minor team in Serie A but one that has become a cheerleader in the league and a constant representative in the cups.
While Xabi Alonso made changes, as if they were slaps from a drowning man, La Dea dealt the death blow with a counter-attack. By giving Leverkusen control of the ball, in a single action they had the space to generate a counter-attack and sealed the final. It was Lookman again. After 15 minutes of epilogue, the African (already watched by powerful teams in Europe) scored with a superb left-footed shot to make the score 3-0, after an assist from the great Gianluca Scamacca.
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In an emerging way, Atalanta is building the most beautiful era in its history. Not only did he win a continental title for the first time, but he It is the first Italian club to win the Europa League since the competition’s new name which replaced the old UEFA Cup. Already classified for the next Champions League, due to its position in Serie A, it will have as an additional prize the European Super Cup dispute against the Champions League champion (Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund).
On the way to the vice-champions, the day of the end of a historic undefeated team arrived. He went 51 matches without falling. The triplet’s dream is over. This Saturday they will have the German Cup final against Kaiserslautern, to close the season.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
