Atalantazo – Xabi Alonso – AS.com

All the miracles of the season are exhausted after 51 days and nights of glory, matches without defeat, Leverkusen from Xabi Alonso fell when he least should have done so, on the cusp of a European title that the Spanish coach will have to wait for. Europe always suffers losses, Europe always puts in its place those who try to conquer it, regardless of whether they are coaches whose future seems quite secure.

The glory this time went to Atalanta and Gasperini, the revolutionary coach of Italy, who needed this continental presentation to show himself to the whole of Europe. A stunning coach who led a modest Italian team, respected but titleless since 1963, to the greatest peak in its history. None of this would have been possible without Ademola Lookman, who became Mbappe when everyone expected someone else to be the hero. His three goals in the final forever elevated him among the greatest heroes of any possible feat.

The Nigerian defeated Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso, who found a mirror in front of him and did not know how to break it. Gasperini’s Atalanta were what they are: a fresh team, energetic in pressing, full of enthusiasm in attack, well equipped with a three-pronged defence. Rarely this season have Leverkusen looked as uncomfortable as they did on the day the European title was up for grabs, a factor that also caused everyone to shudder as it was known in the eyes of the world.

Less than ten minutes had passed before Hincapier or Xhaka had already made serious mistakes in draws. Xabi’s plan to put Adly in ninth place didn’t work either. Adli – runner, space player, bullet. By turning his back and taking on extreme situations, he continually made mistakes.

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The Italian goal was just around the corner. Scamacca touched it after Ruggeri’s superb cross, but the night was destined for semi-unknown heroes like Lookman, that random Nigerian who had no place in England or Germany but has been very settled since he arrived in Bergamo. His electricity and Palacios’ paralysis led to the goal that opened the scoring. No one in the zone believed more than he did, especially the Argentine midfielder, who fell asleep like a baby while his opponent appeared like a flash.

Leverkusen was knocked out, Xabi Alonso could not find an answer. The blow was stronger when Lookman played the flag himself after Adly lost another and extended the distance. His strike to Xhaka and Kovar’s strike on goal were unstoppable. Great goal.

Khabi, despite the blow, did not give up and almost immediately changed pieces. Wirtz became the false nine, and Adly took the flank. Leverkusen improved instantly. The German genius “played as a midfielder” as best he could, and the game took its course. Grimaldo was able to close the gap with a poorly executed shot. It wasn’t his day. With Boniface’s appearance on the field, Frimpong appeared more and more often. He had the opportunity to take the Germans into the final, but his strike was left in limbo.

In agony, as many times this year and as in the final from which he himself returned as a Liverpool player against Milan in 2005, Xabi Alonso tried to reverse what seemed impossible, especially as each Atalanta attack revealed the shame of a defense without a goal.. In one, Lookman, the guy who once decided to dress like Mbappe, blew up the team to settle the dispute and derail Leverkusen for the first time this season. Bounce, reality bath. A spot for Xabi Alonso when everyone was waiting for him the most.

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