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You could never take the man-of-the-match award away from a hat-trick hero in a European final, but in Dublin on Wednesday the superb Ademola Lookman had competition for the honour from the equally outstanding Ederson.

Lookman's stunning treble helped Atalanta to a brilliant Europa League triumph against the previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen and, just as they had done against Liverpool in the quarter-finals, it was a demonstration of how effective the Serie A side are at shutting down some of the most impressive teams.

The intensity of their man-marking approach suffocated an underwhelming Bayer Leverkusen side and defensive midfielder Ederson was key to that. The 24-year-old covered every blade of grass on the Aviva Stadium pitch and although he didn't steal the headlines in the way Lookman did, he was just as impressive. He made 12 tackles and five interceptions in that deeper role and used the ball well going forward.

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While the story was all about Leverkusen heading into the final, the narrative around Atalanta is equally captivating. This was only their second major trophy - after the 1963 Coppa Italia - and secured their return to the Champions League. In eight years in charge, Gian Piero Gasperini has turned them into an entertaining side that continues to enjoy success despite selling their best players.

Ederson could be a candidate to depart this summer. He tops the charts at Atalanta this season for ball recoveries, tackles and duels won and his form has earned a spot in Brazil's 2024 Copa America squad, taking the place of a holding