Gian Piero Gasperini expressed immense pride in his “incredible” Atalanta squad after they triumphed over Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League, marking the club’s first-ever continental victory. Atalanta dominated the unbeaten German champions with a 3-0 win in Dublin, securing their first major trophy in over 60 years.
“It’s an amazing feeling. The boys were incredible, the performance that they put in this evening was wonderful,” Gasperini told Sky Sport. He emphasized their strategic approach, highlighting how Atalanta’s offensive play outshone Leverkusen’s renowned forward prowess. “We absolutely deserved to win. We’re so happy because winning the Europa League is a huge achievement for us.”
Ademola Lookman was the star of the night, scoring a hat-trick and leading Atalanta to a historic victory. “Very, very happy. Together we made history. It’s incredible,” Lookman shared with Sky. “The ambition of the club… Last season we had a great season to qualify for the Europa League, and this season we won a trophy. It’s a fantastic effort from everybody. We’re gonna celebrate tonight.”
Atalanta celebrated their first major European trophy after defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final in Dublin. This victory ended Leverkusen’s impressive 51-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Gian Piero Gasperini, who has managed Atalanta since 2016, secured his first trophy with the club, marking a significant milestone in their history. Atalanta’s path to the title included notable victories over top-tier teams. They led Group D with 14 points, overcame Sporting in the round of 16, and stunned Liverpool with a 3-0 win in the quarter-finals. A 1-1 draw and a subsequent 3-0 win against Marseille in the semi-finals paved their way to the final.
This season has been a landmark for Atalanta. In addition to their Europa League success, they reached the Coppa Italia final and are on track to finish fifth in Serie A, securing a spot in the Champions League for the first time since 2020.
Despite their first defeat in 52 games, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen still has much to celebrate. They made history by remaining undefeated in the Bundesliga, clinching their first league title. This weekend, they have the chance to add the DFB-Pokal to their achievements, potentially completing an unbeaten domestic double.
CAMPIONIIIIIIIII 🖤💙🏆🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/VAS0vMhksU
Advertisement— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) May 22, 2024
L’ABBIAMO FATTO DAVVERO! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
AdvertisementWE DID IT FOR REAL! @EuropaLeague CHAMPIONS! 🇪🇺#AtalantaBayer04 3-0 | #UELFinal #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/RZ9RLc0dpZ
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) May 22, 2024
🇳🇬 Lookman becomes the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final 👑#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/cJZ8aljOBK
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2024
