Atalanta flip script to end Leverkusen's unbeaten run

atalanta flip script to end leverkusen's unbeaten run

Xabi Alonso admitted his side were second best in the Europa League final

Before his side set out to try and make even more history, Xabi Alonso compared football to "a movie." But the final of the Europa League proved a scene he’d have preferred to leave on the cutting room floor, as Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick ensured he took top billing and Italian side Atalanta walked the red carpet in Dublin, ending Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten season in the process.

"It's not about the unbeaten run, that didn't matter, it's about this game," said Leverkusen's midfielder Granit Xhaka. "We lost a game unfortunately, that's football. We knew it'd be a tough game, compliments to Atalanta."

Lookman, who had a spell in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, opened the scoring after 12 minutes before further punishing an uncharacteristically sloppy Leverkusen with two excellent strikes in the 26th and 75th minutes.

No Leverkusen late show, as Lookman shines

The Nigerian international, born and raised in London, has bounced around clubs without ever quite fulfilling his potential. He is representative of a team made up of smart transfers, homegrown players and those who have been guided back on to the right path by coach Gian Pierro Gasperini.

"One of the best nights of my life," Lookman told TNT Sports immediately after the game. "Amazing performance from the team. We did it. I don't have many words to say, but fantastic… We have to celebrate, we made history tonight."

Given the nature of Leverkusen's season — they have scored 18 stoppage time goals and 33 goals after the 80th minute — even the third of Lookman’s goals might not have felt like the clincher on any other night. But even a belief forged in one of football’s greatest seasons wilted in the force of a ferocious, focused and emphatic display from the Italian side.

"It is extremely bitter," Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich told German broadcaster RTL. "Atalanta did what they always do, press all over the pitch, and they won the decisive duels."

"We have to be honest: it was deserved," the German international continued. "It wasn't enough today. I think we had phases in the game where we were better, but we didn't create any real scoring opportunities. If you concede three goals and don't score any, you deserve to lose."

Alonso suffers first big setback

As Alonso applauded the travelling fans, who kept singing, his players ambled round the Dublin pitch, having almost forgotten the sensation of defeat.

“We were not planning to have a bad day today, but for sure we had one," Alonso told TNT. "It was not meant to be. It hurts because we wanted to lift the trophy but you can't have everything."

The Leverkusen coach has enjoyed a meteoric rise since taking charge of the Bundesliga outfit in his first senior job in 2022. Questions will be asked of his decision to leave Lookman’s Nigerian teammate Victor Boniface on the bench but to reach this point without defeat, and to secure a first Bundesliga title, is an enormous over-achievement.

Domestic double still on

Alonso's decision to stay put, and spurn Bayern Munich and Liverpool, means he will take his side to the Champions League next term. As gracious and eloquent as ever, the 42-year-old explained why he was comfortable with that decision.

"We have a very good connection,” he said. "[There are] many players I went to look for and they came to the project, so it was too early [to go]. I'm happy to be here and I will learn from today. It's an experience that means we will keep improving."

As much as it stings, this loss will certainly not define Alonso’s side. And with the German Cup final to come, against second division Kaiserslautern on Saturday in Berlin, they could, and probably should, end a memorable campaign on a high.

"At the moment, of course, the disappointment is much greater than the anticipation of Berlin," added Andrich.

After 51 games and 361 days, stretching back to a 3-0 defeat against VfL Bochum on the final day of last season, Leverkusen's incredible run came to an end.

It didn't turn out to be an invincible season for Leverkusen, but then, unlike Hollywood movies, football doesn't always follow the script.

Edited by: John Silk

Author: Matt Pearson

OTHER NEWS

4 hrs ago

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy 'getting fed up' with owner Jerry Jones: report

4 hrs ago

Who Should Steelers Hope Wins Training Camp QB Battle?

4 hrs ago

Goaltender's dad talks up the Oilers' chances of lifting the Stanley Cup

4 hrs ago

Phillies turn rare 1-3-5 triple play against Tigers, 1st since 1929

4 hrs ago

Discount Burger Check? Chiefs' Reid Shares Hilarious Commercial Story

4 hrs ago

'Devastating loss': Digital lending library, Internet Archive, removes 500,000 books after being sued by publishers

4 hrs ago

Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina: WTA ‘Big 4’ state of play ahead of Wimbledon

4 hrs ago

Would a Toronto byelection loss spell doom for Trudeau?

4 hrs ago

BlackSuit ransomware gang blamed for ongoing car dealership outages

4 hrs ago

'Unreal' injury-time equaliser saves football powerhouse

4 hrs ago

Nigel Farage accused of cosying up to the Kremlin by former NATO boss

4 hrs ago

Dagestan, in southern Russia, has a history of violence. Why does it keeps happening?

4 hrs ago

Marines revive a World War II airfield on Peleliu in Pacific pivot

4 hrs ago

Fortnite Brings Tilted Towers and Other Fan Favorite Locations, But With a Twist

4 hrs ago

Shadow of the Erdtree Puts the Cherry on Top of Elden Rings Main Strength

4 hrs ago

Anger erupts as Albo's governor-general is awarded payrise

4 hrs ago

Charo Makes Rare Public Appearance at Project Angel Food Event: 'Life Is Beautiful' (Exclusive)

4 hrs ago

Boozed-up England fans sing '10 German bombers' chant in Cologne

4 hrs ago

Show Respect: ‘Boys are surprised we talk about this, it’s become normalised’

4 hrs ago

After clash with prosecutor, judge reserves ruling on restricting Trump’s rhetoric about agents’ classified documents search

4 hrs ago

Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan ‘doesn’t deliver’ any ‘energy price decrease’ until 2040

4 hrs ago

Where to watch Netherlands vs. Austria live stream, TV channel, lineups, prediction for Euro 2024 match

4 hrs ago

China lunar probe to return to Earth with samples

4 hrs ago

Report: Knicks’ OG Anunoby declines player option, enters unrestricted free agency

4 hrs ago

Saints offensive line ranked 19th in the NFL

4 hrs ago

Senators acquire goaltender Linus Ullmark from Bruins

4 hrs ago

Why Qld feels like home for the Blues

4 hrs ago

Seahawks waive 3 undrafted free agents, make UFL champ signing official

4 hrs ago

Andrew Scott Frantically Runs to Hear Taylor Swift's ‘Style' at 'Eras Tour'

4 hrs ago

England’s Test series v New Zealand: Date, kick-off time and TV channel

4 hrs ago

Bills' McDermott Says Von Miller Has ‘Something to Prove’

4 hrs ago

US prosecutors want Boeing to face criminal charges

4 hrs ago

Finance Minister Michael McGrath set to become Ireland's new EU Commissioner

4 hrs ago

Red-hot Cardinals get huge boost in return of star catcher

4 hrs ago

How police use the mail to spy on you: 60,000 cases in last decade with little pushback

4 hrs ago

These 3 Republicans are Trump’s most likely VP picks

4 hrs ago

Roy Jones Jr. announces his son, DeAndre, died by suicide

4 hrs ago

Luxury Gyms, Like Equinox and Life Time, Are Taking Over Big Retail Spaces

4 hrs ago

Automobili Pininfarina PURA Vision wins prestigious Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024

4 hrs ago

Pop legend Robbie Williams wears his AFL jersey to see if he still gets recognised in London - with some very surprising results