The Europa League final produced one of the best atmospheres ever heard in the Aviva Stadium - but the outcome that many had wished to see
The Europa League final produced one of the best atmospheres ever heard in the Aviva Stadium - but not the outcome that many had wished to seeBayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso applauds his team's fans after the side's first defeat of the season, in their 52nd match. Photograph: Alex Grimm/GettyIt’s over.
The Uefa guide to Dublin had, perplexingly, recommended those visiting fans sample three different potato dishes – boxty, champ and colcannon. Nobody expected that Leverkusen would play the first half like they had bellies full of spuds.
The first goal came after just 12 minutes when Koopmeiners played a quick perceptive pass inside for Zappacosta, who surged clear of Grimaldo and crossed low. Lookman stole in on the blindside of the fatally hesitant Exequiel Palacios and shot high into the net. Grimaldo, a revelation this season for Leverkusen from left wing-back, played in an attacking midfield role off the striker, Adli, and he missed Leverkusen’s two best chances of the first half: the first one missing his kick after Frimpong’s pace had created the opening, the second one hitting it straight at the keeper when a simple lob looked on.
Instead it was the Italians who got the killer third with 15 minutes to go. Centre-forward Gianluca Scamacca, who had endured a pretty poor night until that point, beat Tapsoba and passed outside to Lookman, who threw a stepover before blasting into the far top corner with his left. It was the goal of a player ablaze with confidence, and the first hat-trick in a European Final since Pierino Prati scored one for Milan against Ajax in 1969.
Leverkusen still have the German Cup final to come this weekend. A domestic double would mean this still is – and will surely remain – the greatest season in their history. But the chance to do what no club has ever done will not come again.
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