Atalanta stunned the football world by clinching the Europa League title in Dublin, defeating Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in an unforgettable final. Following their historic victory, Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta’s head coach, made a point of mentioning Liverpool, a team his squad had previously bested on their journey to the trophy.
Ademola Lookman was the star of the night, netting a hat-trick that secured Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy. The Italian team’s dominance on the pitch was evident as they outplayed Leverkusen, whose hopes of an unbeaten treble in Alonso’s debut season were dashed. Liverpool fans can empathize with Leverkusen’s disappointment, having experienced a similar fate at the hands of Atalanta in the competition’s quarter-finals.
Earlier in the tournament, Atalanta delivered a remarkable 3-0 victory at Anfield, a result that left Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool with an insurmountable challenge in the return leg. This triumph over Liverpool was just one of several notable victories for Atalanta, who also topped their group ahead of Rúben Amorim’s Sporting CP and eliminated the Portuguese champions in the last-16 round.
Reflecting on his team’s achievements, Gasperini praised their consistent performances throughout the Europa League. He highlighted their victories over top-tier teams like Liverpool and Sporting CP, who were leading their respective leagues at the time, as well as Bayer Leverkusen, who dominated the Bundesliga. “We made history with extraordinary performances,” Gasperini told Sky Italia, emphasizing the significance of their victories over such formidable opponents.
With their Europa League success, Atalanta is set to join Liverpool in next season’s Champions League. Fans and players alike are eager to see how far this resilient team can go. For now, Gasperini and his squad can bask in the glory of their historic win, having proven themselves against some of Europe’s best.