Atalanta 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen – Europa League Final: Live score, team news and updates as Ademola Lookman nets TWICE in major blow to Xabi Alonso

WATCH: Lookman at the double

Well, who was expecting that, eh?

Atalanta have been exceptional, and so has this man, Ademola Lookman. His two goals have the Italian side leading at half-time.

I mean, the first goal was good, but WOW, the second was simply stunning – in my book.

The way he nutmegs Granit Xhaka before curling it into the bottom corner. Stupendous.

Enjoy both of his goals, below.

HALF-TIME: Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Who predicted this scoreline 45 minutes ago? Not me.

The whistle is blown and Atalanta’s perfect half has come to an end.

The Italian side were brilliant in that half, it could not have gone much better for them.

Ademola Lookman has them 45 minutes closer to breaking their 61-year trophy drought.

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen have been pretty dreadful. their dreams of an invincible treble are in real danger.

CHANCE! Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Oh, they nearly di make it interesting.

We know Granit Xhaka can hit them, and he strikes the ball well outside the area.

It comes close, but not close enough, it just drifts wide of the post.

TWO minutes added time

There are just two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half.

If Bayer Leverkusen can get a goal now, it would make things interesting.

CHANCE! Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Atalanta are hungry, very hungry!

They look dangerous again, and it takes a strong low save from Matej Kovar to deny Charles de Ketelaere’s driven strike on the edge of the area.

The Italian side are really enjoying themselves out there.

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Jeremie Frimpong is doing all the running for Bayer Leverkusen.

He gets in behind again and runs to the left-hand side, but as he looks into the area, there is nobody there…

He then loses the ball.

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

The way this is going, Atalanta could certainly get a third before half-time.

They win the ball once again, and they are off. Charles de Ketelaere feeds Gianluca Scamacca, but he can’t get a shot off.

I can’t believe how poorly Bayer Leverkusen are playing.

YELLOW CARD: Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta (Scamacca)

Another yellow card for Atalanta.

this is a naughty challenge, this time from Gianluca Scammca. He chops down Florian Wirtz with some force on the halfway line.

Unsurprisingly, he is booked.

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Nothing is going the way of Bayer Leverkusen right now.

They are on the counter-attack and look like they are away, but are pulled back by the referee for a foul by Jeremie Frimpong on Teun Koopmeiners.

The German side are livid, it seems harsh.

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Atalanta are not happy with this two-goal lead, they want more.

Gianluca Scamacca tries the spectacular but Edmond Tapsoba clears. The ball then comes straight back, but Scamacca’s shot from range doesn’t trouble Matej Kovar.

Even if they tried to, the Italian side could not have played better this half.

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Atalanta are taking Bayer Leverkusen to school right now.

Just like they did against Liverpool, they have knocked Leverkusen out of their stride completely.

Xabi Alonso needs to think of something quickly, or it could be over before half-time…

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

Craig Hope, Mail Sport, at the Aviva Stadium:

Ademola Lookman has come a long way from League One with Charlton… but the 2-0 lead is fully deserved. The Italians have been the better, more purposeful side. The Invincibles are The Invisibles so far.

Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta

I am still in disbelief at that goal.

I was just typing that he looked like a player with confidence as he bent the ball home.

A quick backspace was needed, but boy was I right!

GOAL!!! Leverkusen 0-2 Atalanta (Lookman 26′)

WOW, THAT IS SPECTACULAR!

Ademola Lookman is on fire and he produces a moment of magic to fire Atalanta two goals to the good.

The forward nutmegs Granit Xhaka and then bends the ball with power into the bottom right-hand corner in style.

That is simply stunning. Bayer Leverkusen are stunned.

Is the unbeaten run set to end tonight?

YELLOW CARD: Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta
(Djimsiti)

We have our first card of the game.

It goes to Atalanta captain Berat Djimsiti for clipping the heels of Exequiel Palacios.

He’s not happy, but I agree with the booking.

Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta

The chances are flowing.

Now it’s Atalanta again. Gianluca Scamacca sees his name in lights, but he fires miles over the bar.

It would have been some finish, that.

Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen have finally arrived in Dublin.

Edmond Tapsoba slides a lovely pass in behind for Jeremie Frimpong who cuts the ball back across the area.

Alejandro Grimaldo misses the ball completely while trying to shoot, and then Josip Stanisic gets a shot away, but its deflected through to Musso.

Much, much brighter.

Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta

The Atalanta press really is relentless.

They win the ball back again and win a foul after Charles de Ketelaere gets wiped out.

Can they keep this up all night?

Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta

Atalanta are playing exactly like they did at Anfield against Liverpool.

Bayer Leverkusen simply can’t beat the Italian side’s press, and they keep giving the ball back to them.

It’s early doors, but this is very worrying for the German side.

GOAL!!! Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta (Lookman 12′)

Ademola Lookman has the first say in the final!

Atalanta have started this final the much brighter side and they get their reward through the former Everton man.

It’s a beautiful goal as Lookman moves brilliantly into the box to turn home Davide Zappacosta’s cut-back into the top corner.

The invincible Bundesliga champions will have to come from behind.

Leverkusen 0-0 Atalanta

Again, Leverkusen mess up at the back.

They give it away and it leads to the first chance of the game. Oscar Ruggeri clips over a lovely little cross to the back post, but Gianluca Scammaca can’t direct his header on target.

The German side got away with one there, they are looking very shaky.

Leverkusen 0-0 Atalanta

Some sloppiness seems to have crept into the Bayer Leverkusen backline.

First, Edmond Tapsoba gives the ball away at the back, and then Piero Hincapie gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area.

It ended up coming to nothing, but they shouldn’t be giving away opportunities like that.

Leverkusen 0-0 Atalanta

That is a terrible delivery by Florian Wirtz.

Bayer Leverkusen have a free-kick deep in the Atalanta half, and you expect him to whip it into the box.

The ball doesn’t even reach the area and is cleared by Atalanta. A very poor set-piece.

Not like Wirtz to do that.

Leverkusen 0-0 Atalanta

You can already tell this is going to be an attacking final.

Normally these occasions are cagey affairs, but both Leverkusen and Atalanta look keen to get forward in the opening minutes.

I love a thriller, let’s hope that’s what we have in store.

Leverkusen 0-0 Atalanta

Both teams are attacking in the direction of the opposition fans in this first half.

It means they will have their support roaring them forward in the second, which always helps.

KICK-OFF: Leverkusen 0-0 Atalanta

There is a huge roar as Atalanta get this Europa League final underway.

It is a special atmosphere in Dublin, let’s hope the match follows suit.

It’s a huge 90 minutes, or more, coming up…

Here come the teams…

Oh, it’s nearly time to get underway…

The teams are now out on the turf in Dublin and the flags are being waved in the crowd.

Now it’s time for the Europa League anthem, which is miles better than the Premier League one.

However, it’s hard to hear because the fans are so loud!

Pre-match show underway!

I love this part of big finals, the pre-match show.

It feels like you’re at Eurovision and a big final at the same time, it’s always a spectacle.

The pyro is flying into the air, dancers are putting on a show, and the fans are enjoying it.

Well, just as I say that, I see a certain John O’Shea coming out with the Europa League trophy.

We are nearly there…

Lookman looking to make a difference…

Premier League fans, you’ll recognise this man.

Ademola Lookman has played for several Premier League teams in his career but is now lighting up the Serie A.

He has scored 27 goals during his two years in Bergamo and will be wanting to add to that tonight.

Can he make a difference in Dublin?

Xabi Alonso: ‘This is the big one’

Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen boss, speaking on TNT Sports:

We want to keep going, keeping doing history for us and for sure we have a great chance after so many years without reaching a final. It’s going to be great but tough.This is the big one, we are really looking forward (to it). The guys are ready. It’s a huge moment for everyone, and I try to use my experience.

Peter Crouch: Atalanta ‘fantastically clinical’

Peter Crouch, former Liverpool striker, on TNT Sports:

How many teams go to Anfield and dominate? Atalanta just went there and didn’t allow Liverpool to play their own game. It was a tactical masterclass really. They pressed Liverpool constantly, and didn’t allow them to get out, Gianluca Scamacca, Charles de Ketelaere, and Teun Koopmeiners pressed so effectively, that they couldn’t breathe. Fantastic on the counter-attack and fantastically clinical.

Final preparations underway

We are edging closer, and closer, to kick-off…

Both Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta have come out into the cauldron of noise and are going through the motions of their warm-ups.

I wonder if their nerves have started jangling yet, this is when it really starts to feel real.

It’s a monumental match for both of them.

Atalanta’s route to the final

What a journey Atalanta have been on in Europe this season!

Just like Leverkusen, they finished the group stage unbeaten, despite some testing fixtures. After that, things got interesting.

We all know they knocked out the favourites Liverpool in spectacular fashion, but let’s have a look at how they got to Dublin from the knockouts onward.

Round of 16: Atalanta 3-2 Sporting

Quarter-final: Atalanta 3-1 Liverpool

Semi-final: Atalanta 4-1 Marseille

*All results are aggregate scores

‘Atmosphere building now’

Craig Hope, Mail Sport, at the Aviva Stadium:

Just under half an hour to kick off here and the teams are in. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Florian Wirtz for Leverkusen. Still only 21 but he’s been a star this season (18 goals from 47 games) and looks set to start for Germany this summer, too. It’ll be interesting to see how Ademola Lookman gets on for Atalanta. He’s rebuilt his career in Italy after spells at a host of English clubs. Atmosphere building now…

30 minutes until kick-off

This is what it looks like from the press box…

Mail Sport’s Craig Hope is at the Aviva Stadium and has shared his view on X (formerly Twitter).

The photos were good enough, but this video just shows how many fans have made the journey.

The stadium looks stunning!

Atmosphere booming at the Aviva

Wow, just look at these pictures!

The fans are already packed inside the Aviva stadium and making themselves heard.

Both teams came out for the warm-ups just a moment ago, and the noise levels were incredible.

The fans have come in numbers, and it’s some spectacle.

The Late Late Show ft. Leverkusen

I told you Bayer Leverkusen’s knockout stages were chaotic.

They scored nine late goals across the six games following the group stage with six coming in stoppage time.

They always pull it out of the bag when it matters.

Leverkusen’s run to the final

Bayer Leverkusen’s road to Dublin has certainly been one to remember.

It didn’t start off too chaotic, they coasted through the group stage with six wins from six.

However, the carnage came in the knockout stages, it was last-minute goals galore in their games. Let’s have a look at them:

Round of 16: Bayer Leverkusen 5-4 Qarabag

Quarter-final: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 West Ham United

Semi-final: Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 Roma

*All results are aggregate scores

Gian Piero Gasperini: ‘I’m really disappointed that we won’t have De Roon’

Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta boss, speaking about Martin de Roon:

Personally, I’m really disappointed that we won’t have De Roon there, because of his value to us on the pitch. He deserved a final. He’s given so much to Atalanta, I’m sorry to lose him for our most important match. It’s not easy when you play every three days for three months, and having to always perform to your fullest.We’ve played a lot of matches, in a positive way, but we still have regrets about our game against Juventus (in the Coppa Italia final), which was not one of our better performances. But now there’s another game, another final, another trophy.

Atalanta Team News – Lookman STARTS

Is this the team that can end 61 years of hurt?

Atalanta have named their starting 11, and Gian Piero Gasperini has made seven changes.