“This is just the beginning.”
Atalanta BC defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-0 to win the European Football Association (UEFA) Europa League Final of the 2023-2024 season at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, at 4 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
It was Atalanta’s first European title in franchise history. Leverkusen’s unbeaten run this season came to an end in this match. Leverkusen’s unbeaten run stood at 51 games.
Atalanta started in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Gianluca Scaramacca was up front, while Ademola Lucman-Charles Doucetelaar formed the attacking second line. Matteo Ruggeri, Thon Kopmeijners, Ederson, Davide Chapacosta, and Sead Kolasinac, Isaac Hien, and Berat Zimcic formed the back four. Juan Musso was in goal.
Leverkusen also lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Amine Adli started up front, while Florian Wirz-Jérémy Frimpong formed the attacking second line. Alejandro Grimaldo-Granit Xhaka-Ezequiel Palacios-Josip Stanisic formed the midfield, 토토사이트 with Piero Incapie-Yonatanta-Edmond Topsova at the back. Macej Kovarsi wore the goalkeeping gloves.
Atalanta opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
Chapacosta picked up the ball on the right flank in front of the box, moved forward and sent in an incisive cross that was met by a dynamic Lucman, who rattled the post with an exquisite left-footed strike.
Leverkusen looked to capitalize on their high ball possession in search of an equalizer.
Instead, Atalanta added another goal. In the 26th minute, Lucman received the ball in front of the box, approached the penalty arc and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that found the bottom corner of the net.
The first half ended with a 2-0 lead for Atalanta.
Leverkusen made an attacking change at the start of the second half, bringing Stanisic to the bench and introducing Victor Boniface. In the 23rd minute, 사설 토토사이트 Leverkusen made another change, bringing on Robert Andrić and Adam Hlozek for Grimaldo and Palacios.
Atalanta sealed the win. Once again, it was Lukman who scored the winner. After picking up the ball on a counterattack in the 30th minute, Skramaka drove forward and approached the Leverkusen box before crossing to Lucman, who was running down the left flank. Lucman unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from inside the box to complete his hat trick and make the score 3-0.
The match ended with a 3-0 victory for Atalanta.
After the match, UEFA Europa League shared the words of the ‘hat-trick hero’ on its official website, where he spoke to the competition’s official channels.
“We played a fantastic game in all aspects of the game,” said Lucman, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in a final since the competition was renamed the UEFA Europa League. We showed our intent from the first minute. We had a fantastic first half and we didn’t let up in the second half,” he said of his side’s performance.
He added: “Playing for Nigeria is an unbelievable experience. The support and love I get from the people back home is indescribable. It motivates me to improve. Not just in my game, but as a person,” he said.
“Over the past two years, my team and coach have supported me and given me playing time. There was a lot of support within the team. This has allowed me to play my own game within the style we play. It helped me take my game to a new level. I’m really grateful for that. We made history and brought the trophy back to Bergamo.”
Lukman was asked what he likes about Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
“Intensity,” he said. He tells you what he expects from you through training, through conversations. The first time I spoke to him, it changed the way I look at soccer. He simplified everything. Thanks to him, I now play with a different perspective. I’m grateful to him.”
He added: “Leverkusen are the best team this season. They were undefeated before this match. I have a lot of respect for what they have achieved this year. We prepared thoroughly and executed our game plan well.”
Lucman added: “I’ve always been confident in my ability to score goals and help my teammates. In the last two years, I’ve reached a new level. I probably could have done it sooner, but I’m glad it’s happening now, 토토사이트 추천 but this is just the beginning. I hope there will be more nights like this in the future, and I hope to get better and better,” he promised.
“Growing up, my family helped me become the person I am today. They instilled in me moral values and gave me a positive outlook on life. They instilled in me moral values and a positive outlook on life. I owe them a lot,” he added.