Ademola Lookman scored all three goals as Atalanta stopped the clock on Bayer Leverkusen’s extraordinary 51-game unbeaten run, and brought 66-year-old coach Gian Piero Gasperini the first major trophy of his long career.

Atalanta pressed high from the off and with Leverkusen’s danger men making a cold start in unseasonably chilly conditions, the Italian side were ahead after 12 minutes.

Played in brilliantly by Teun Koopmeiners, Davide Zappacosta delivered an angled ball back across the box that eluded two of his team-mates, but not the lurking Ademola Lookman, who crashed in a shot at the far post.

The No11 needed no assistance for his second on 26 minutes, weaving his way to the edge of the box and smashing a low effort past the exposed Matĕj Kovář.

Alejandro Grimaldo failed to test Juan Musso with Leverkusen’s best chance of the first half after 35 minutes, and while the lively Jeremie Frimpong probed diligently for weak spots, Xabi Alonso’s side did not look like a team who were unbeaten in 51 games.

The only consolation at the break was that it could have been worse, Kovář saving well from Charles De Ketelaere on 43 minutes.

Victor Boniface was introduced at the break, and with Atalanta sitting a little deeper, Leverkusen smouldered to life, Frimpong blazing a loose ball over just before the hour mark.

However, Atalanta maintained their threat, and Gianluca Scamacca played in Lookman on 75 minutes, the Nigerian steadying himself before blasting past Kovář.

Leverkusen’s reputation for late goals ensured that Atalanta could never be entirely comfortable, even at 3-0 up, but even this remarkable side could not find an escape route this time.

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