Atalanta secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling Europa League final played at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Wednesday. The night belonged to Nigerian forward Ademola Hakeem, who etched his name in history with a stunning hat-trick, ending Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season across all competitions.
Atalanta started strong, dictating the pace of the game with their attacking prowess. Their dominance paid off in the 27th minute when Hakeem rose above the Leverkusen defense to head home a perfectly placed cross. The Nigerian forward continued his scoring spree just ten minutes before halftime, latching onto a loose ball in the box and firing a powerful shot past the Leverkusen goalkeeper.
Leverkusen, unbeaten in all 12 Europa League matches this season, came out with renewed purpose in the second half. However, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by a resolute Atalanta defense. Hakeem completed his historic hat-trick in the 78th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack with a clinical strike.
The win marks a remarkable achievement for Atalanta, who reach new heights in European competition. For Ademola Hakeem, the night will be forever etched in memory. The 23-year-old becomes the first Nigerian player to score a hat-trick in a major European final, silencing doubters and solidifying his place as a rising star in world football.
Leverkusen, heartbroken by the loss, will have to regroup and focus on their remaining domestic competitions. While the dream of an unbeaten season is shattered, the experience gained in Europe will undoubtedly prove valuable for their young squad moving forward.