Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman scored a sensational hat-trick as Atalanta ended a 61-year trophy drought by beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium, in Dublin, Wednesday night.
Bayer Leverkusen who won the German Bundesliga title undefeated were hoping to add the Europa League and the DFB Pokal Cup to complete a historic treble unbeaten this season.
However, Nigerian international Lookman spoiled the party for Leverkusen which features his compatriots Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella.
The former Everton star scored his first goal in the 12th minute when he placed the ball in the top corner following a cutback from Davide Zappacosta.
Lookman’s second goal was worthy of any European final, as he nutmegged Granit Xhaka before bending a fantastic shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards in the 26th minute.
The third goal was equally as good with Lookman beating Edmond Tapsoba with a step-over before firing into the roof of the net to put the game beyond even Leverkusen, whose story has been filled with amazing, dramatic comebacks this season.
The victory gave the Italian side only the second trophy in their history following the 1963 Coppa Italia triumph.The win also ensures Atalanta will play in next season’s Champions League, which they had not yet guaranteed through the Serie A.
For Bayer Leverkusen, their undefeated streak ended at 51 matches but they have another chance of doing the domestic Double when they take on Bundesliga 2 side Kaiserslautern in the DFB Cup final on Saturday in Berlin.