Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso lost the Europa League final and ended their historic run

(CNN, Spanish) — 51 games went without defeat. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso achieved what no one else has achieved in Europe (longest unbeaten streak) and also achieved the first time a team won the Bundesliga without losing. But this Wednesday, Atalanta stopped him in the second title (of three) that the Germans are fighting for this season: the Europa League. Jabineta lost 3-0 and, unlike what has happened in many games this year, Leverkusen ultimately failed to come back.

A double from Nigerian Ademola Lookman ended the first half in favor of the Italians.

He scored in the 12th minute after good play from Teun Koopmeiners and an assist from Davide Zappacosta.

Lookman then fired a powerful diagonal shot between the defenders in the 26th minute. Great goal.

Stop this Lukman. pic.twitter.com/RzrLmrdyjr

— Stop that football (@stopthatfooty) May 22, 2024

But there was still a lot to be done and a treble emerged with Lookman scoring in the 76th minute from an assist from Gianluca Scamacca. Another powerful cross kick that can’t be stopped.

Lookman joins a very select group of nine players to score hat-tricks in a European final. The last person to do this was Colombian Falcao in 2012. The first was the legendary Alfredo di Stefano in 1960.

Thus, Atalanta wins its first Europa League title. Not bad for a team whose greatest triumph was the 1963 Italian Cup.

Lookman was the executioner of Bayer Leverkusen. Hat-trick for history and champion Atalanta. (Photo: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite the blow, Leverkusen’s dream season is not over yet.

Leverkusen still has a final to play and a new title it can win to extend the legend, albeit with a gap to the Europa League this season: the German Cup against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, a second division team.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso had nothing left to prove. He’s already had an unprecedented season; became the local league champion for the first time in its 119-year history. He has pleased his fans and can continue to do so in the German Cup.

Xabi managed to change the team’s nickname from “Neverkusen” to “Neverlusen”: from those who had never won to those who had never lost. This series will go down in the history books. After all, 51 isn’t a bad number.