They were better – Xabi Alonso after Bayer Leverkusen’s winning streak ends

Bayern Leverkusen were on a roll as they were unbeaten for 51 consecutive matches. However, their winning streak was snapped by Atalanta in the Europa League final as they suffered a 3-0 loss. 

The Bundes Liga champions have ticked all the right boxes in the ongoing season but they ran out of gas against Atalanta. Ademoda Lookman scored a fine hat-trick at the Aviva Stadium as he found the back of the net in the 12th, 26th, and 75th minute.

Atalanta only had 33% possession but took 10 shots on goal, seven of which were on target. 

“It wasn’t lost in terms of attitude, it was a football thing,” Alonso said. “It happens, it’s football, today wasn’t meant to be. They were better.

“It’s our first defeat of the season so it will be a test as to how we deal with it because we have a big game on Saturday. Normally it [first defeat] happens earlier in the season, but when it happens in such a big game, it hurts. But we have to use this pain in a positive way — it’s football, the normality is not to lose the first game in the 52nd game.

“It’s exceptional what we have done. Today is painful, but it is deserved as well.”

Meanwhile, Atalanta’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperin was delighted with the way his team dominated the contest. Earlier in the season, they had also stunned Liverpool.

“I think we wrote history, also for the way we won it,” Gasperini said. “It was just extraordinary. We defeated Liverpool, Sporting [Lisbon] who won the championship. When we faced Liverpool, they were first in the Premier League. And now the German champions. Incredible. The boys were extraordinary, a memorable performance.”

With this loss, Bayern Leverkusen’s hopes of winning the treble also ended. Alonso’s team will take on FCK in the DFB Pokal final on Saturday.