Neither legs nor aggression
But in Dublin against Atalanta, they didn’t have the legs or the aggression needed to match the ferocity the Italians proposed. Even their unerring resilience, which has allowed them to turn around the most desperate situations at the end of games this season, failed them on Wednesday.
Atalanta, on the contrary, also the author of a superb season, has already qualified for the fourth Champions League in its history, but which seriously marked the time after the marathon of 14 games from April 3, found the necessary energy in the best way. “We have to find physical freshness, but also mental freshness,” claimed his coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the final, the architect of a team without great resources, which just by winning the Europa League turned its good reputation into a title. was enjoying Europe.
Lookman hat-trick
On the pitch of the Aviva Gasperini stadium, his Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, the author of three goals for his team, heard. From the 12th minute, after a corner poorly executed by the German defense, the whirling striker appeared in front of Exequiel Palacios, too passive, to receive Davide Zappacosta’s cross at the far post (1-0). Still in the first period, after Bayer Leverkusen lost the ball, served from the left, about thirty meters from the goal, Lookman got back on his right foot to bridge Granit Xhaka before powerfully striking near Kovar’s post (2-0, 26).
Then in the second half, with Leverkusen pushing, Gianluca Scamacca counter-attacked with a full center without being tackled before changing Lookman. Elusive, the Nigerian easily cleared Edmond Tapsoba before finishing strongly with another cross, this time from the left, for his third goal of the night (75th).
Resurrection
His hat-trick marks a club on the rise. He sanctifies his own resurrection. Wandering from club to club in recent seasons, Lookman has found a place where he can express all his talent thanks to Bergamo and Gasperini, a former specialist in strengthening players who lack confidence.
Fully recovered this season, he has already shone at the Africa Cup of Nations, contributing greatly to Nigeria’s lead to the finals. He scored twice in the 1/8 finals against Cameroon. He therefore further showed his talent in the Europa League final by scoring an extra goal and taking his team to the top of Europe. At least that’s what it took to defeat the Invincibles.