Atalanta stun Bayer Leverkusen, win Europa League 2023-24 title: Stats
Italian side Atalanta made history by winning their maiden European title. Atalanta stunned Bayer Leverkusen in a dominating UEFA Europa League 2023-24 final in Dublin. Atalanta's Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick as Leverkusen's unbeaten run in all competitions this season came to an end. Bundesliga champions Leverkusen's dreams of winning a Treble ended. They can however complete a domestic double by winning the DFB-Pokal.
Leverkusen's 51-match unbeaten run comes to an end
Leverkusen's 51-game unbeaten run this season across all competitions ended. They had claimed 42 wins and nine draws before tonight's defeat. Leverkusen, who scored 144 goals this season, have conceded 42 after letting in three tonight. Xabi Alonso's side is in the final of the DFB-Pokal. Leverkusen face 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the final on Saturday.
History made!
Massive records made by Atalanta
As mentioned, Atalanta won their first major European trophy. Notably, they have become the first Italian team to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League since Parma in 1999. As per Opta, Lookman is the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of a major European competition for an Italian side, after Pierino Prati for AC Milan against Ajax in the 1969 European Cup.
Atalanta go 3-0 up against Leverkusen in H2H meetings
Leverkusen and Atalanta met for the third time in an European competition. Notably, the two sides met earlier in the 2021-22 Europa League round of 16 clash with Atalanta winning both legs. Leverkusen played their second UEFA Cup/Europa League final. Before this, the German side reached the final in 1988 and won the trophy. They beat Espanyol 3-2 on penalties over a two-legged final.
Looking at Leverkusen and Atalanta's Europa Leage run this season
Leverkusen were 12 matches unbeaten in the Europa League this season (W9 D3) before tonight's defeat. German side Leverkusen scored 31 goals and conceded 13 across 13 games. Atalanta ended their Europa League journey this season with eight wins, four draws and a solitary defeat. Atalanta scored 25 goals and conceded eight across 13 matches.
Here are the match stats
Both sides managed 10 attempts. Atalanta had seven shots on target with Leverkusen clocking three. Leverkusen had 67% ball possession and and 83% pass accuracy. Both sides had 14 touches in the opponent's box.
How did the match pan out?
Former Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta's cross saw Lookman open the scoring with a back-post finish on 12 minutes. Lookman doubled the advantage with a stunning curling effort 14 minutes later. Leverkusen's best chance in the first half fell to Alejandro Grimaldo but he fired over. Lookman wrapped up his third goal from Gianluca Scamacca's assist with a powerful left-footed strike in the 76th minute.
Lookman's numbers versus Leverkusen
As per Squawka, Lookman won nine duels and 6 touches in opposition box. He completed four take-ons. He mustered three shots and all of them were on target. He also own six fouls.
Second Italian coach to win the UEFA Europa League
At 66 years and 117 days, Gian Piero Gasperini is the oldest coach to win his debut major European final. He is also the second Italian coach to win the UEFA Europa League after Maurizio Sarri in 2019.
