Lookman, who scored the legendary Atalanta-Bayer Leverkusen hat-trick in the Europa League final

Atalanta, Ademola Lookman destroys Bayer Leverkusen

Atalanta makes history with a legendary hat-trick: Ademola Lookman scored the hat-trick in the Europa League final – played in Dublin – which destroyed Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen (first match lost all season – after 51 matches without defeat – for the Bundesliga champions). La Dea won the first European cup in its history thanks to the 26-year-old striker born in England (London borough of Wandsworth) but national team of Nigeria (whose parents are originally from): robbery goal from a low cross by Zappacosta, fantastic right-footed shot from the edge (after the tunnel to Xhaka) and a torpedo at the top corner to close the score. On the night when everyone was waiting for Gianluca Scamacca (excellent performance car) or maybe Koopmeiners (dominator in the middle of the field), the spotlight is all for Ademola Lookman.

Atalanta, Lookman hat-trick in a European final like Prati in Milan-Ajax

Lookman like Prati: the Italian striker had been the last to score a hat-trick in a European final for an Italian team. The great Pierino had brought the Milan on the top of Europe on 28 May 1969, winning the European Cup, 4-1 against young Johan Cruijff’s Ajax. “It’s the first hat-trick of my career, I’m very happy, we’ve made history and the cup is coming to Bergamo. Incredible. The club’s ambition is to win, it was a collective effort, everyone did their part”, he said. said Ademola Lookman at the end of the Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.

Ademola Lookman, who scored the legendary Atalanta-Bayer Leverkusen hat-trick in the Europa League final

Versatile player who knows how to vary on the offensive front (he can play first or second striker, but also left wing), fast and equipped with good dribbling, as well as an excellent shot (ask the Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper…), arrived at Atalanta in August 2022 it was precisely in Bergamo that it found its consecration. Lookman’s career started in Charlton (with which he made his professional debut in 2017, at the age of 20), then the move to Everton (alongside Romelu Lukaku) in January 2017 with 15 appearances and one goal. The Liverpool club loaned him to Leipzig after one year (January 2018) and in Germany it shows some flashes (4 goals in 34 appearances). At the end of the loan he returned to the Toffees, but an injury to his right knee kept him out for several months practically never managing to play (one presence). On 25 July 2019, RB Leipzig recalled him, purchasing him for 18 million euros: few appearances (11 without goals), then the loan to Fulham (34 games and 4 goals) and the following year he went to Leicester City (26 matches played with 6 goals). Then, as we said, in August 2022 Atalanta bets on him: the Dea invests 15 million euros.

It is the turning point of Loockman’s career: last year 13 goals in 31 league appearances (with 8 assists), this year 9 in Serie A (and 6 winning passes), but above all 5 in the Europa League with the hat-trick in the final that destroyed Bayer Leverkusen and consigned Gasperini’s Goddess to history.

And then…