Atalanta broke Bayer Leverkusen’s hearts and ended their unbeaten run of 51 video games to win the 2023/24 Europa League. They grow to be the primary Italian workforce since Parma in 1999 to win the Europa League, due to their 3-0 victory in Dublin tonight.
A scintillating efficiency from Ademola Lookman noticed him rating an exquisite hat-trick, which included a intelligent end from contained in the field, a long-range strike into the underside nook and an emphatic end into the highest proper nook.
Atalanta performed German champions Leverkusen off the park, urgent them so properly and rendering their ball-playing skill out from defence ineffective. It was a tactical masterclass from Gian Piero Gasperini, who has turned this Atalanta aspect from mid-table obscurity to European champions; he has finished an unbelievable job thus far.
It was a comparatively simple evening’s work for the Italian aspect, with Leverkusen taking part in nowhere close to the usual folks have come to count on. Xabi Alonso’s aspect couldn’t get a foothold within the recreation.
The choice by Alonso to not choose a recognised striker similar to Patrick Schick or Victor Boniface might properly have labored towards them within the grand scheme of issues. Had he picked one among that duo, the evening might have had a really totally different really feel to it.
It was a disappointing evening for Alonso and his aspect, who ended up falling to their first defeat of the season, within the penultimate recreation. They’ve yet another match to go, a DFB Pokal ultimate towards Bundesliga 2 aspect FC Kaiserslautern.
Wish to understand how every participant carried out at present? Listed here are our participant scores from the ultimate.
Atalanta participant scores
GK – Juan Musso – 7
Not a lot to do, however strong when known as upon. A clear sheet in a European ultimate is greater than commendable.
CB – Beret Djimsiti – 6
Led properly from the entrance, and though he struggled at occasions in duels towards the likes of Boniface, helped guarantee his aspect saved a clear sheet.
CB – Isak Hien – 7
Robust in his duels and gained each of his tackles. A strong exhibiting at centre-back in a European ultimate.
CB – Sead Kolasinac – 7
Handled the tempo of Frimpong properly within the first half, who appeared to get in behind him from time to time, and was too bodily for the Dutchman to have the ability to deal with. Needed to go off injured at halftime.
RWB – Davide Zappacosta – 8
Pressed fantastically all evening and supplied nice assist to De Ketelaere down the right-hand aspect. Dealt properly with Grimaldo, too. Always up and down the flank.
CM – Ederson – 9
In every single place in a midfield battle towards Xhaka and Palacios who’ve been great all season. Pressed relentlessly, very good in duels and nice on the ball. An engine in the course of the park.
CM – Teun Koopmeiners – 8
Like Ederson, Koopmeiners was glorious in midfield, consistently urgent and exhibiting his high quality on the ball. A high efficiency from probably the most enterprising midfielders in Europe.
LWB – Matteo Ruggeri – 7
Pressed properly like fellow wing-back Zappacosta, and supplied an outlet on the left-hand aspect for Atalanta to make use of. Labored onerous in his duels, too. An excellent exhibiting total from the wing-back.
AM – Charles De Ketelaere – 7
Discovered pleasure in the appropriate half-space, received on the ball usually within the first half and linked up properly with the overlapping Zappacosta.
AM – Ademola Lookman – 10
The primary participant to attain a hat trick in a single-leg Europa League ultimate. Lethal all evening, relentlessly working at Taposoba and scored three spectacular targets. Elegant efficiency.
ST – Gianluca Scamacca – 8
Sensible in duels particularly within the air, and linked up play properly, too. Capped off his evening with a deserved help to Lookman as he sealed his hat trick. Confirmed his class all evening lengthy.
Subs
Giorgio Scalvini – 6
Got here on as a half-time sub for Kolasinac, and put in a commanding efficiency to assist marshall his aspect by to the tip of the sport. Helped to maintain Wirtz quiet.
Bayer Leverkusen participant scores
GK – Matej Kovar – 5
Conceding three in a European ultimate just isn’t very best, however there was not a lot he might do for any of them.
CB – Edmond Tapsoba – 3
A really powerful night for the defender, who couldn’t deal with Lookman in any respect and was run ragged by the Nigeria worldwide. An evening to neglect.
CB – Jonathan Tah – 4
Struggled up towards Scamacca, who created the third purpose for Lookman with a pleasant help. His first loss as captain this season.
CB – Piero Hincapie – 4
Like his fellow centre-backs, he struggled and was consistently pinned again by the likes of Zappacosta when being pressed.
RWB – Josip Stanisic – 4
Struggled to get into the sport at right-wing again, and had a tricky night coping with the damaging Lookman. Changed by Boniface at halftime.
CM – Exequiel Palacios – 4
Caught ball-watching for the opener to permit Lookman to sneak in behind him and convert from eight yards. Labored onerous in midfield for the remainder of the sport.
CM – Granit Xhaka – 4
A shadow of his normal self this season. Couldn’t discover his vary of passing and struggled in a few of his midfield duels. Nutmegged by Lookman for his second purpose.
LWB – Alejandro Grimaldo – 4
Had a golden probability to drag one again for his aspect at 2-0 down within the first half, however his tried dink over the goalkeeper was comfortably saved. His set-piece supply was surprisingly poor too.
AM – Jeremie Frimpong – 5
Enjoying a really unfamiliar position tonight, ran the channels properly however struggled towards the physicality of Kolasinac.
AM – Florian Wirtz – 4
Couldn’t get into the sport in any respect, and didn’t have a lot of an impression within the ultimate third. Stored quiet by Scalvini within the second half.
ST – Amine Adli – 3
Struggled up towards the physicality of Atalanta’s again three, and didn’t get a sight of purpose all evening. A irritating night.
Subs
Victor Boniface – 4
Introduced on at half-time to assist spearhead the Leverkusen assault, and while he made himself a presence up entrance, received no service and didn’t get a clear-cut alternative in entrance of purpose.
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