Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick as Atalanta ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run to win the Europa League final 3-0 on Wednesday evening.

For Atalanta, Lookman’s hat-trick in a European final was the first in 49 years.

Long have the Bergamo side lived in the shadow of the adjacent giants, AC and Inter Milan.

Under Gian Piero Gasperini, though, they have had a golden age, making it to the Champions League four times and now having silverware to show for it.

In their incredible journey to capture a first-ever Bundesliga title without suffering a setback, Leverkusen have developed a habit of late rallies.

They were unable to pull themselves out of a hole that a sluggish start had made, though, this time.

In the first twelve minutes, Atalanta’s more deliberate play was rewarded.

Lookman spotted Exequiel Palacios dozing off to fire into the back post’s top corner after Davide Zappacosta reached the by-line.

The Nigerian has occasionally had a nomadic career, moving about the Premier League on loan at Fulham and Leicester after being released by RB Leipzig.

Lookman, though, has made Bergamo his home and will always be a hero there.

His second goal, which came after he nutmegged Granit Xhaka and curled a strong effort into the far corner, was worthy of winning any final.

2-0 down was Xabi Alonso’s team’s fourth deficit in seven Europa League knockout games.

Flying fullbacks for Leverkusen have been the key to their incredible season and ought to have kept them in the game either side of halftime.

Before Jeremie Frimpong burned over with the goal gaping, Alex Grimaldo blasted tamely into Juan Musso’s arms.

Leverkusen were also denied a lifeline when Gianluca Scamacca was fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a violent challenge on Florian Wirtz.

Alonso has risen quickly to become one of the most attractive coaching prospects in Europe.

The Spaniard has turned down offers from previous teams Bayern Munich and Liverpool to stay at the BayArena for the upcoming campaign.

Alonso brought on Victor Boniface at halftime to provide his team a focal point up front after his choice to start without a known striker did not succeed.

The German winners appeared a team depleted by their record run across three competitions, though, so the harm was already done.

After the interval, Atalanta were content to absorb the pressure from Leverkusen and launch a counteroffensive.

Lookman delivered another amazing finish as he blasted into the top corner with his weaker left foot after scuttling past Edmond Tapsoba.

Under Gasperini, Atalanta had lost every one of their previous three finals, most recently against Juventus in the Coppa Italia last week.

But this time the hundreds of people dressed in blue and black who had travelled from northern Italy to the Irish capital were not going to let them miss their opportunity at history as they were yelled across the finish line.

By doing so, they became the first Italian team to win the competition since Parma won the UEFA Cup in 1999.

Photo by EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN