Europa League: Here’s how Atalanta rode to victory

Atalanta were a force to reckon with from start to finish in the Europa cup. The Italian side were fantastic right from the group stage to the final against Bayern Leverkusen in Dublin.

Here’s how Atalanta rode to Europa League victory in Dublin. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman grabbed a hat-trick to end Leverkusen’s 49 unbeaten record.

Group Stage: Winner of Group D

Atalanta were drawn in group D alonside, Portuguese giants Sporting, Austrian minnows Sturm Graz, and Polish outfit Raków Częstochowa.

In these six matches, La Dea scored 12 goals and conceded just 4 goals thus recording an +8 goal difference.

They topped the group with 14 points by winning four matches and drawing two others. Only Sturm Graz and Sporting managed to draw them away from home.

Round of 16

It was advantageous for Altanta to not participate in the round of 32 because a change in format prevented them from participating. The winner of the group stage gets a direct entry into the round of 16.

Gasperini’s team fought hard away from Sporting in the first leg to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw, giving them the chance in the second leg to beat them 2-1 thanks to Lookman and Scamacca to secure a 2-1 win, securing their place in the quarter-final with a aggregate score of 3-2.

Quarter-Finals- Atalanta stunned Liverpool 3-0

While Liverpool were hot favourites, the Italian underdogs knew that they have all the tools to break their unbeaten record at Anfield. Atalanta demolished the Reds at home to secure a 3-0 win so that half of the tie was in their hands.

As a result of Gasperini’s mastermind in Anfield, Klopp and Co were stunned by the outcome. In the second leg, Liverpool took control after Salah scored a penalty within 7 minutes. While Atalanta lost the match by 0-1 overall, they progressed 3-1 on aggregate by preventing their opponents from scoring further goals.

Semi-Final:  Atalanta defeated Marseille 5-2 on Aggregate

A tricky first leg in the Orange Vélodrome saw Atalanta open the scoring through Scamacca in the opening 11th minute but they could not resist the lead as Mbemba levelled the score at the break. Both sides did not take the risk in the second half, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Atalanta completely outclassed Marseille in the final leg to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate, marking their first appearance since 1963 that the italian side have reached a Europa League final.

Final: Atalanta defeated Bayern Leverkusen 3-0 to emerge Champions

Atalanta were faced with a difficult task of facing a Bayern Leverkusen side that have been unbeaten in 49 games in all competitions.

But Le Dea didnt show any form intimidation in Dublin as they showed class from the blast of the whistle till the very end.

Gasperini’s team fought hard from start to finish in what ended Leverkusen’s unbeaten run. Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman scored in the 12th, 26th and 75th minute of the encounter to bag a hattrick and man of the match.

Prior to the Europa final, Atalanta had previously lost the Coppa Italia final 2-1 to Juventus but have now made up for the loss in a much bigger final  against Leverkusen in Dublin.

The result meant that Atalanta will feature in the UEFA Champions League next season.