Atalanta won their first major trophy in 61 years on Wednesday evening when they beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final.
The Serie A side, who lost the Coppa Italia final last week, ended Leverkusen's remarkable 51-game unbeaten run and claimed their first piece of European silverware thanks to a remarkable hat-trick from Ademola Lookman.
Gian Piero Gasperini's side outfought and outclassed the Bundesliga champions, with their triumph securing them Champions League football next season.
How the game unfolded
There were palpable nerves among the Leverkusen players in the early stages and their slack start was punished after just 12 minutes. Davide Zappacosta found acres of space as he drove into the penalty area, cutting back for former Everton forward Lookman to fire home from close range.
Leverkusen continued to struggle with Atalanta's intense press and another turnover helped Gasperini's side into a two-goal lead. It was Lookman who found the back of the net once again with a remarkable strike, nutmegging Granit Xhaka and curling a stunning effort into Matej Kovar's bottom corner.
Xabi Alonso's side weren't able to create many clear-cut chances throughout the first half but their best opportunity fell to Alex Grimaldo. The Spaniard was released down the left-hand side and attempted to lob Juan Musso, but his effort was comfortably claimed by the Atalanta stopper.
Atalanta came close to adding a third just before the half-time whistle following a swift counter-attack, but Charles De Ketelaere's near-post strike was well held by a grateful Kovar.
Despite Alonso bringing a natural centre-forward on to the pitch in Victor Boniface, Leverkusen found it tough to break down an Atalanta side defending with incredible gusto. Jeremie Frimpong had their first opening after the restart, but couldn't keep his volley down from inside the area.
But it was Atalanta who would grab the decisive third goal of the game as Lookman fired the Italian side to glory. The English-born attacker was released by Gianluca Scamacca on the break, taking it on to his left foot and arrowing a stunning shot into the top corner.
Leverkusen continued to push for a goal to make things nervy late in the game but they couldn't slice open a resolute Atalanta defence, with Gasperini's men handing them their first defeat of the season en route to the Europa League trophy.
Atalanta player ratings (3-4-2-1)
GK: Juan Musso - 7/10 - Seldom tested and stood up to the task when he was called upon.
CB: Berat Djimsiti - 7/10 - Booked for a late challenge on Exequiel Palacios but managed to steady himself as the game wore on.
CB: Isak Hien - 8/10 - Got tight to Amine Adli during a dominant first half and nullified the threat of Boniface after the restart.
CB: Sead Kolasinac - 7/10 - Helped stifle Leverkusen's forward line with a physical display. Withdrawn at half-time due to injury.
RM: Davide Zappacosta - 8/10 - An excellent driving run into the box in the build-up to Lookman's effort and he was a relentless presence bombing up and down the right wing.
CM: Ederson - 9/10 - A combative and industrious display from the Brazilian, who hoovered up everything in central areas. He will have undoubtedly added to his already sizeable price tag with a brilliant showing.
CM: Teun Koopmeiners - 8/10 - Picked up some dangerous positions deep in Leverkusen territory and produced some incisive passes to open up their defence.
LM: Matteo Ruggeri - 8/10 - Dealt with Leverkusen's threat in wide areas, matching the tricky Frimpong. A fantastic showing on the big stage.
AM: Charles De Ketelaere - 7/10 - An efficient outing from De Ketelaere, who ran himself into the ground off the ball.
AM: Ademola Lookman - 10/10 - Opened the scoring with a tidy finish at the far post, doubled his side's advantage with a sublime goal and completed his hat-trick with a sensational effort. Absolutely tortured the Leverkusen backline, writing his name into Atalanta folklore with a dazzling display.
ST: Gianluca Scamacca - 8/10 - Some excellent hold-up play in the final third, attracting defenders and teeing up his teammates. Grabbed the assist for the second-half strike.
Substitutes
SUB: Giorgio Scalvini (46' for Kolasinac) - 8/10 - A superb defensive performance from the youngster who was thrust into the action at half-time.
SUB: Mario Pasalic (58' for De Ketelaere) - 7/10
SUB: El Bilal Toure (83' for Scamacca) - 6/10
SUB: Hans Hateboer (83' for Zappacosta) - 7/10
SUB: Rafael Toloi (90' for Ruggeri) -N/A
Subs not used: Marco Carnesecchi (GK), Emil Holm, Mitchel Bakker, Marten de Roon, Michel Ndary Adopo, Aleksey Miranchuk.
Manager
Gian Piero Gasperini - 10/10 - A tactical masterclass from his side, who smothered Leverkusen with their pressing and were direct in transition. Did what no other manager has done this season and outsmarted Alonso.
Bayer Leverkusen player ratings (3-4-2-1)
GK: Matej Kovar - 6/10 - Helpless for all of Atalanta's efforts, with no help from his backline.
CB: Edmond Tapsoba - 4/10 - Had some serious issues with Lookman as the game became stretched. Beaten far too easily for Atalanta's third.
CB: Jonathan Tah - 5/10 - No major individual errors but found life tough up against the robust Scamacca.
CB: Piero Hincapie - 4/10 - Some sloppy lunges in the early moments and he couldn't find his feet after a shaky start.
RM: Josip Stanisic - 5/10 - Given some difficult moments by Lookman, who turned him inside out on several occasions. Taken off at half-time for a centre-forward in Boniface.
CM: Exequiel Palacios - 4/10 - Caught flat-footed for Atalanta's early strike, unaware of Lookman lurking behind him. Set the tone for a disjointed display.
CM: Granit Xhaka - 5/10 - Tried to force things in the final third with some speculative passes and long-range shots, but couldn't cause Atalanta any issues.
LM: Alex Grimaldo - 5/10 - Some darting runs beyond the forward line caused Atalanta some problems, but his set pieces were poor.
AM: Jeremie Frimpong - 6/10 - Tried his best in a position in which he wasn't entirely comfortable, using his pace to stretch the Atalanta defence.
AM: Florian Wirtz - 6/10 - A largely anonymous outing from the Leverkusen star, who couldn't pull the strings in the final third.
ST: Amine Adli - 5/10 - Didn't offer much of a focal point and his loose header gave Atalanta possession back prior to their second.
Substitutes
SUB: Victor Boniface (46' for Stanisic) - 5/10 - Couldn't influence proceedings after his introduction.
SUB: Robert Andrich (69' for Palacios) - 6/10
SUB: Adam Hlozek (69' for Grimaldo) - 6/10
SUB: Patrik Schick (81' for Wirtz) - 5/10
SUB: Nathan Tella (81' for Frimpong) - 6/10
Subs not used: Lukas Hradecky (GK), Niklas Lomb (GK), Arthur, Odilon Kossounou, Gustavo Puerta, Jonas Hofmann, Borja Iglesias.
Manager
Xabi Alonso - 4/10 - Got his team selection wrong from the off, with his side desperately missing a traditional number nine. Couldn't influence things from the bench as he was outsmarted by his counterpart Gasperini.
