Ademola Lookman’s 2024 Europa League Final: The Teamwork Behind the Hat-Trick
Bagale Pulse Football Analysis • 6 of 30
Historical match analysis: Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 in the 2024 Europa League final, with Ademola Lookman scoring all three goals. UEFA’s technical review explains why the performance deserves attention beyond the finishing highlights.
The verified tactical foundation
UEFA identified Atalanta’s coordinated man-for-man defending as a major feature. Pressure restricted Leverkusen’s build-up options, while defenders were prepared to follow opponents away from the back line. Lookman rewarded that collective work with varied finishing, scoring with both feet. These observations refer specifically to the 2024 final, not to either club’s current lineup.
Our analysis: the individual and the structure
A useful way to read this match is to separate chance creation from chance conversion. Collective pressure can create favourable moments, but a forward still needs to recognise and execute them. Likewise, an outstanding finishing display does not prove that the same defensive approach will work against every opponent. The two parts of the performance supported each other that night.
A lesson for watching Nigerian attackers
When assessing any forward, look beyond goals to the situations the team creates for them. Do they receive facing goal or with a defender on their back? Are they isolated, or does a teammate occupy another marker? These questions help explain why the same player may look different across matches. A highlight reel rarely shows the complete environment.
What to watch next
Rewatch one goal and begin your analysis before the final pass. Identify the movement that created the space, then assess the finish on its own merits.
Source: UEFA: analysis of the 2024 Europa League final. Interpretation and viewing exercises: Bagale Pulse.