Atalanta overflowing! 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen: the Europa League is his

ROME – Atalanta ‘Goddess’ of Europe. This first trophy for the Nerazzurri outside the Italian borders is eye-opening, in the spirit of Gian Piero Gasperini's first success. The ‘unbeatables’ beaten of Bayer Leverkusen. Indeed, the Germans were crushed by a hat-trick (!) from Lookman after 51 games without defeat. Three nil, match […]

ROME – Atalanta ‘Goddess’ of Europe. This first trophy for the Nerazzurri outside Italy is eye-opening, in the name of spectacle, Gian Piero Gasperini’s first success. The ‘unbeatables’ of Bayer Leverkusen are beaten. Or rather, the Germans were crushed by a hat-trick (!) from Lookman after 51 games without defeat. Three nil, perfect match. A beautiful and ‘bad’ Atalanta who knocked out their opponents in less than half an hour. After 12 minutes, Zappacosta’s cross he crossed the area ending up in the area of the far post, a bit of the classic ‘Gasperinian’ from fifth to fifth but this time Lookman arrived to put it in the net. Then in the 26th minute the jewel that embellished it even more the extraordinary evening of the Nigerian strikerwhom Bayer put the ball at his feet with an uncertain play and he turned it into gold: tunnel at the edge of the area against Xhaka and an uncatchable shot at the far post. Pure entertainment. The 9,000 Nerazzurri fans who arrived at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin were delirious. Xabi Alonso in disbelief in front of the Leverkusen bench. And then, when Grimaldo placed the possibility of reopening the challenge in Musso’s arms, the Spanish coach actually sat down.

IN THE SHOT-IN, SAME SCRIPT AS THE FIRST HALF

Bayer tried to change something in the second half by sending a regular centre-forward onto the field, but Atalanta were not intimidated and held the field well, actually frightening the Germans, who were decidedly unhappy on the pitch in the evening of the dribble. Hien commanded the defense, Ederson and Koopmeiners formed a wall in midfield, Scamacca kept Leverkusen’s rearguard busy and Lookman continued to aim and pass the opponents. An elusive bee ready to sting. He did it again in the 75th minute: footwork and dribbling to enter the area, then left foot to cross under the crossbar. Hat-trick and match ball that will have a special place in his home. And now there are also three defeats for Bayer Leverkusen against Atalanta in as many matches between the two teams, a true bête noire (blue). Germans annihilated and off to the Italian party. The night of the Goddess.