All of Europe, and beyond, bows to Atalanta who triumphed in Dublin, where they put an end to Bayer Leverkusen’s streak of 51 games without defeat. Thus ‘Marca’, the Spanish sports newspaper, headlines “Atalanta destroys Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen”, and also dedicates space to Lookman, hero of the evening with a hat-trick, explaining who “the ‘anonymous’ world champion of Atalanta is sample”. Alonso’s words are also reported: “it wasn’t our night, Atalanta were superior to us and no one can say otherwise”.
ANSA Agency Meloni: ‘Atalanta’s victory is a pride for all of Italy’ – Football – Ansa.it Congratulations, extraordinary performance in the Europa League (ANSA)Curiously, the other Spanish sports newspaper ‘AS’ also uses the same verb as the competitor ‘Marca’ to describe the feat of the Goddess, and explains that “Lookman destroys Xabi Alonso”, also writing about “Atalantazo” for the coach of Basque origin . Lookman’s proof is instead defined as “imperial”. The ‘Mundo Deportivo’ opens with Hansi Flick in pole position for the Barcelona bench, but also dedicates space to the final in Dublin and its main protagonist. The headline reads: “Lookman takes Atalanta to European glory and leaves Xabi Alonso without a ‘treble'”.
Video Atalanta wins the Europa League, celebration in Bergamo
Atalanta’s conquest of the Europa League is also celebrated in France. L’Equipe writes about the “Atalanta Wall” underlining that “the record of 51 unbeaten matches for Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Laverkusen incredibly collapses”. The Italians, writes the French sports newspaper, win the trophy “after a perfect match” and an exceptional hat-trick from Ademola Lookman.
In England the BBC underlines the exploits of Lookman, former Everton, Fulham and Leicester, reporting the Nigerian’s words after the match: “this is only the beginning – the Atalanta player’s words -, because now I hope we will have other nights like this, in which we made history. In the last two years I have taken my game to a higher level, with greater consistency, and I show it on the pitch.” The ‘Sun’ opens with Mauricio Pochettino as a possible new England coach after the European Championships and with the title “Look of the Irish”, a play on words on the hero of the match defined as the “Charlton kid” because the Nigerian began his career in this club in Europe when he was still a minor. It is also highlighted that “his splendid hat-trick ruins Alonso’s dream of scoring the hat-trick as an undefeated”. Space for the Goddess also in the ‘Times’, with photos of the Nerazzurri lifting the Cup and the headline “Lookman puts an end to Leverkusen’s streak”. On the page there is also a photo of Xabi Alonso with a perplexed expression.
In Germany, the ‘Bild’ writes about Leverkusen that “the defeat is the logical consequence of the team’s attitude, which offers the worst performance of the season, especially in the first half. Wrong passes, numerous lost duels and a team that seemed asleep, like on the occasion of the first goal.” The German newspaper targets Bayer with an eloquent headline: “the fallout of Neverkusen”, underlining how a team capable of remaining unbeaten for 51 matches collapsed right at the best moment. “From the championship victory to the biggest disappointment”, writes ‘Bild’.
The echo of the Dea’s triumph in Dublin also reached Brazil and found space on the sports pages of ‘O Globo’, which underlined the feat of Gasperini’s Nerazzurri by recalling that “with a hat-trick and a show Lookman puts an end to the unbeaten streak of Bayer Leverkusen”. The Carioca newspaper also highlights how the striker of the Bergamo club scored his third goal, “pedaling and then finishing with a strong left-footed shot”. The great performance of Ederson, just called up by coach Dorival Junior for the Copa America, is also highlighted: the Seleçao needed a midfielder like that.
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