Ademola Lookman scored a brilliant hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s first European trophy as they won 3–0 away to Bayer Leverkusen. Today we will discuss about Europa League News Today: Conference,BBC,Winners.
Europa League News Today: Conference,BBC,Winners
“I’ve always had the confidence in my ability to create, to score goals, to help my team-mates,” the 26-year-old said in the post-match press conference. “In the past two years I’ve been able to take my game to a whole new level. Maybe [my best form] could have come earlier, but it’s come now. This is just the beginning. I hope for more nights like this and to just keep getting better and better.”
It is the sixth time that a player has scored a hat-trick in the final of a major UEFA club competition. Ferenc Puskás hit four for Real Madrid against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final, and then hit three against Benfica in the final of the 1962 competition.
Alfredo Di Stéfano also scored three for Madrid in that 1960 final, while Pierino Prati scored three against Ajax for Milan in the 1969 showpiece. The only previous hat-trick in a UEFA Cup or Europa League final was scored by Jupp Heynckes, as Mönchengladbach beat Twente in the 1975 decider.
Lookman is only the third Nigerian player to find the net in a UEFA Cup or Europa League final, after Alex Iwobi in Arsenal’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea in 2019 and Joe Aribo, who scored Rangers’ goal as they lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt. two years ago. He is also only the third Nigerian to appear in a final win in the competition, after Taribo West (Inter Milan, 1998) and Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moskva, 2005).
After the game, he said that playing international football for Nigeria had helped him to raise his game. “It’s incredible [to play for Nigeria],” he explained. “The support and the love I get back home from the people is unbelievable. It gives me the motivation to evolve in different areas – as a person, not just in my game.”
Conference
The RB Arena in Leipzig, Germany and Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey have been appointed to host the UEFA Conference League Final in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
The UEFA Executive Committee confirmed the appointments at its meeting in Dublin, Ireland ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final.
The RB Arena hosted five games at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and will also be the venue for four matches at UEFA Euro 2024, while Besiktas Park was the setting for the 2019 UEFA Super Cup and is also awarded the 2026 Europa League Final.
BBC
Playing with fire, Atalanta pressed up top and Leverkusen’s dangerous men made a cold start in unseasonably cold conditions, with the Italian team ahead after 12 minutes.
Played brilliantly by Tun Koopmans, Davide Zappacosta whipped an angled ball back across the box that beat two of his teammates but not the elusive Ademola Lookman, who crashed in a shot at the far post. . The No. 11 needed no assistance for his second on 26 minutes, making his way to the edge of the box and slotting a low effort past the exposed Matej Kovar.
Europa League News Today: Conference,BBC,Winners
Alejandro Grimaldo failed to test Juan Musso with Leverkusen’s best chance of the first half after 35 minutes, and while the lively Jeremy Frimpong probed diligently for weak spots, Was invincible in sports. The only consolation at the break was that it could have been worse, with Kovar making a good save from Charles de Ketelair on 43 minutes.
Victor Boniface was introduced at the break, and with Atalanta sitting slightly deeper, Leverkusen came to life, with Frimpong lashing home a loose ball just before the hour mark. However, Atalanta maintained their threat, and after Gianluca Scamacca played in Lookman in the 75th minute, the Nigerian composed himself before beating Kovar.
Leverkusen’s reputation for scoring late goals ensured that Atalanta could never be completely comfortable, even when leading 3–0, but even this remarkable side had no chance of escaping this time. Couldn’t find the way.
He did it in style. Atalanta won their first European trophy after an absolutely brilliant performance against German champions Leverkusen. Sorry to say, but if you were surprised by this performance, you haven’t been paying enough attention this period. Just ask Liverpool or Marseille, who learned the hard way how good Gasperini’s side have been this term. As for Lookman’s performance: No words are needed.
Player of the Match: Previous finals
2023 Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)
2022 Kevin Trapp (Frankfurt)
2021 Étienne Capoue (Villarreal)
2020 Luuk de Jong (Sevilla)
2019 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
2018 Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid)
2017 Ander Herrera (Man United)
2016 Coke (Sevilla)
2015 Éver Banega (Sevilla)
2014 Ivan Rakitić (Sevilla)
2013 Branislav Ivanović (Chelsea)
2012 Radamel Falcao (Atlético)
2011 Radamel Falcao (Porto)
2010 Diego Forlán (Atlético de Madrid)
2009 Darijo Srna (Shakhtar)
2008 Andrey Arshavin (Zenit)
2007 Andrés Palop (Sevilla)
2006 Enzo Maresca (Sevilla)
2005 Daniel Carvalho (CSKA Moskva)
2004 Roberto Ayala (Valencia)
2003 Derlei (Porto)
2002 Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord)
2001 Gary McAllister (Liverpool)
2000 Cláudio Taffarel (Galatasaray)
1999 Hernán Crespo (Parma)
1998 Ronaldo (Inter)
Winners
Atalanta won the Europa League final and ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten streak.
In a performance close to perfection, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side dropped a marker early in the game after winning a corner. The initial ball was cleared by Leverkusen, but David Zappacosta dribbled into the box before finding Ademola Lookman at the back post.
Lookman’s opener boosted the confidence of Atalanta, who pressed with such intensity that Leverkusen had no answer. Lookman was a nightmare for defender Edmund Tapsoba and he scored the second goal in the 26th minute after cutting inside and firing a right-footed shot.
He counterattacked in the second half and completed a brilliant hat-trick. Gianluca Scamacca fed him on the left side of the box and Lookman fired his strike into the far, top corner.
Leverkusen’s resistance ended and Atalanta claimed their first European trophy.
