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Can any player from either side in the all-English final produce a performance like Ademola Lookman's masterclass for Atalanta in the 2023/24 showpiece?
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman has his name forever etched in Europa League history after his superb hat-trick in last year’s final.
With Manchester United and Tottenham set to play for the Europa League trophy in an all-English final, can any player from either team emulate or outdo the Nigerian superstar?
Manchester United and Tottenham gear up for Europa League final
The 2025 UEFA Europa League final at San Mames, Bilbao, is a make-or-break moment for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, both struggling near the bottom of the Premier League, with the Red Devils in 16th and Spurs in 17th.
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Despite poor domestic form, they are both now just 90 minutes away from silverware and Champions League qualification.
The winner will become the lowest-ranked team to ever qualify for the European Cup, but that has not stopped either side from dreaming about playing with the Elite European teams next season.
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Tottenham cruised through the knockout stages, defeating AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bodo/Glimt, while Manchester United eliminated Real Sociedad, Lyon, and Athletic Bilbao, all whom suffered red cards, on their way to book their spot in the final.
Lookman’s prominent place in UEFA Europa League history
With both teams gearing up for a winner-takes-all final, they will be hoping that one of their players can step up like Ademola Lookman did for Atalanta in last season’s showpiece.
The Super Eagles star struck three times in the final of the 2023/24 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, scoring all the goals as La Dea claimed their first-ever European honours with a 3-0 victory over the then-German champions.
Lookman’s hat-trick was the first in a Europa League final since the competition was rebranded from the UEFA Cup in 2009, making him an instant legend of the competition, and it remains to be seen whether any Manchester United or Tottenham players will eclipse the Nigerian star’s record.
Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes has already scored a hat-trick in this season’s competition, coming in the Round of 16 first-leg tie at Old Trafford.
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