2024-05-23 15:37:48
DUBLIN. The Goddess of Europe. For one night time the Irish sky is tinged with black-blue, the colours of Atalanta who outclasses the German champions Bayer Leverkusen in opposition to all odds – 51 video games within the season with out ever dropping, till tonight – and wins Europe League, the primary historic worldwide trophy in its historical past.
Absolutely the protagonist of the ultimate in Dublin, Ademola Lookman: his hat-trick despatched the Nerazzurri to heaven, superior in each duel, and in each space of the pitch, in opposition to the Germans, contemporary from a document streak of matches with out defeat. The three-0 consecrates Gasperini’s group as probably the most ‘European’ group when it comes to depth and mentality – after the feat of eliminating Liverpool – and opens up the chance for Italy of a sixth group within the Champions League (Roma, however provided that Atalanta finishes fifth within the championship).
On the magical night time in Dublin, Gian Piero Gasperini’s gamble paid off when confronted with the battleship Bayer, rulers of the Bundesliga, he determined to insurgent in opposition to the function of sacrificial sufferer, proposing a hyper-offensive formation.
One more successful instinct from the coach from Grugliasco, who thus turns into – because of this victory, the two hundredth on the Atalanta bench – probably the most mature coach to win a UEFA cup. The easiest way to do away with that “zero {qualifications}” label given to him by his detractors.
And likewise to shut with a bang – if the rumors of his imminent farewell show true – his golden cycle in Bergamo. Exactly to make room for the 27-year-old Nigerian worldwide, Gasp relegated Teun Koopmeiners to the midfield line, deploying an attacking trident, accomplished by Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere. And his dominance, particularly within the first half, proves him proper.
Not solely up entrance, but in addition in defence, the place Isak Hien cancels out Amine Adli and above all Berat Djimsiti, captain of the night as a result of absence of Marten de Roon, cancels out the dreaded Florian Wirtz. The primary half is thus an Atalanta monologue, to the delirious pleasure of its eight thousand followers, who arrived in Dublin, even by way of unlikely stopovers (from Tallinn to Tenerife), for the appointment with historical past, the primary European ultimate in 117 years of historical past . From the primary minutes, Atalanta’s fearlessness forces Bayer – maybe in psychological issue additionally because of their function as very favorites – to play in apnea. All probably the most harmful actions move by means of the ft of Lookman, Matteo Ruggeri’s opening inspiration: on the cross from the Bergamo winger, Scamacca fails to search out the header. 12 minutes move and Atalanta runs forward: this time the motion develops on the best, Koopmeiners triggers Davide Zappacosta, within the middle of him Lookman anticipates Exequiel Palacios.
Bayer seems dazed, much more than by the drawback, by the livid tempo of the Orobics, asphyxiating in urgent to recuperate the ball. The Germans’ response is a weak shot from Josip Stanisic, which Juan Musso blocks comfortably. However after a brand new try by Scamacca, nonetheless imprecise, Lookman takes care of giving substance to his superiority. On Matej Kovar’s clearance, Amine Adli’s improvident again move, Lookman takes the ball within the midfield, tunnels to Granit
Bayer is more and more helpless, however Charles De Keteleare, after having jumped Piero Hincapie like a skittle, wastes a superb alternative. And upon returning to the altering rooms, the one actual likelihood for Xabi Alonso’s boys was a left-footed shot simply large by Granit Xhaka. The inertia of the ultimate appears to vary within the second half, Bayer takes the lead, Atalanta is relegated. Gasperini is cautious, changing De Ketelaere with Mario Pasalic. However past an outsized shot from Jeremie Frimpong, the German champions didn’t produce.
In contrast to Lookman, who extracts the third gem of the night from his hat. A diagonal shot of uncommon magnificence, which seals the primary Italian victory ever within the Europa League. It is a huge celebration, on the pitch in Dublin and on the identical time in Bergamo. Three objectives within the ultimate, within the first European success in Atalanta’s lengthy historical past: Ademola Lookman, together with his hat-trick in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen within the Europa League ultimate, enters the elite of European soccer, in addition to that of Bergamo.
Three is the magic quantity for this 26-year-old striker born in England however naturalized for Nigeria, who exploded within the Nerazzurri after having performed, amongst different issues, within the youth groups of the English nationwide group, in Leipzig and Leicester: Lookman in actual fact reaches 30 tonight objectives for Atalanta in two seasons. Beforehand, in continental competitions, he had solely scored for the Nerazzurri within the second leg of the spherical of 16 in opposition to Sporting Lisbon and within the semi-final second leg in opposition to Marseille. For the Nigerian worldwide, silver within the latest Africa Cup of Nations, it’s the second private trophy after the Below 20 World Cup within the colours of the Tremendous Eagles. In 2023-2024, for him, 15 objectives in whole up to now, of which 9 within the league and 1 within the Italian Cup within the semi-final return match in opposition to Fiorentina, for a complete of 30 in 76 appearances in two years. Born in London on 20 October 1997, he has beforehand performed for Charlton, Everton, Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester. However the consecration got here with Gasperini, who understood the combination of pace and method and tailored it completely to a flawless gaming machine. The consecration in Dublin, with three objectives and an evening that he’ll always remember, Gian Piero Gasperini lifts the good cup, 13 kilos of silver which represent the Europa League trophy. He raised it 3 times in entrance of the 1000’s of jubilant followers who got here from Bergamo to Dublin to see the Goddess win her first European trophy. In a manner that the coach defines as “extraordinary”.
And it truly is, should you suppose not solely of the 3-0 within the ultimate in opposition to Leverkusen, however of the extent of different opponents defeated alongside the way in which, “groups like Marseille, Sporting Lisbon and Liverpool, who once we went there they have been first within the Premier League”. He’s happy with the gamers he coaches. For them he repeats “extraordinary”. The victory in Dublin “is a superb satisfaction after a memorable efficiency”.
He paid for what appeared like a raffle, initially deploying the attacking trident. “There have been all of the situations to play on this manner, in a novel match, which we needed to win. You’ll be able to’t simply defend in a match like this” he replies. “With no shadow of a doubt it’s a deserved cup, successful the Europa League is actually an achievement. We would have liked such a prestigious trophy. My future? I’ve to speak to the president, now let’s rejoice” he concludes. “It is a dream that has come true… seeing how a lot these followers love Atalanta is fantastic. In Bergamo now everybody will probably be on the streets celebrating.” Right here is president Antonio Percassi, his eyes shining with emotion. He says he’s “assured” and “calm” about Gasperini’s permanence.
After the second of Lookman’s three objectives “I assumed ‘this time perhaps we are able to do it’. Such an incredible outcome for such an vital purpose is surprising – he provides – Atalanta is in historical past. The great thing about it’s to see the membership develop yearly and the gamers understood it too.” “I am very, very comfortable. Tonight we wrote historical past, all of us did it collectively. The trophy will return with us to Bergamo, it is unbelievable.”
Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in opposition to the Germans, was the very best performer of the match: “That is the membership’s ambition. Final 12 months we had an incredible season and certified for Europe. Now now we have gained a trophy collectively to the coach. There was a incredible contribution from everybody and tonight we rejoice.”
2024-05-23 15:37:48