"The sky is black and blue over Dublin"... one year later!

365 days... Time has truly flown, yet, a year on, the emotions remain—indelible, alive, and unbreakable. May 22nd, a date that will forever be etched in Atalanta's history books. A year ago, Atalanta reached the pinnacle of Europe, painting the sky over the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in nerazzurro.

And so, a year on, here we are, celebrating the magical night when Atalanta, once the "queen of the provincials," became the Queen of Europe, gifting Bergamo and all its fans a triumph that will forever belong to the most beautiful chapters of European football.

May 22nd: more than just a date, because that sky over Dublin, for 365 epic days, became nerazzurro.

As in every epic tale, it all begins with a “call to adventure”, that suspended moment that sparks anticipation, making the air feel more electric, the breath shorter, and the heartbeat faster. And so, staying in the realm of strong emotions and racing pulses, here comes our post from the pre-match final preparations.

And, as in every great epic, the call is followed by the journey, the odyssey, which in Atalanta’s case leads the Nerazzurri through the gates of the Aviva Stadium, stage of what would become a performance in three acts. The tension, rising like an unstoppable tide, envelops every moment, as the final trial stands now on the horizon…

The kick-off is fast approaching, and here are the eleven Atalanta players called upon to take up the challenge thrown down by the "Invincibles" of Bayer Leverkusen, ready to step onto the field at the Aviva Stadium.

Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolašinac, Zappacosta, Koopmeiners, Ederson, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Gianluca Scamacca

A "Starting XI" that every Atalanta fan knows by heart, a top-notch lineup (or nearly so) except for De Roon's absence, put together by coach Gasperini for the most prestigious night of all.

It's the 12th minute when the evening starts to turn black and blue.

It all begins with a powerful move down the right flank: Koopmeiners wins the ball and feeds it to Zappacosta, who delivers a low, slicing cross into the box. Leverkusen's defence is caught off guard by Hien's clever dummy, and Lookman, perfectly positioned at the far post, arrives right on cue to meet the ball, slotting it home with his left foot. It’s the first sign of what would become a tidal wave from Atalanta: the Leverkusen defence shows its first crack, and it’s Lookman who makes his mark.

In the 26th minute, Atalanta doubles their lead, again with Ademola Lookman, who chooses to write another chapter in his perfect night.

After a lightning-fast counterattack, the number 11 receives the ball at the edge of the box, nutmegs Xhaka, and with a quick feint, creates the space for a shot. Without hesitation, he unleashes a curled right-footed strike that kisses the bottom corner before nestling into the back of the net past the goalkeeper.

In the 75th minute, the seal of a perfect night is finally placed...

Pašalić triggers the counterattack before opening the ball to Scamacca. The number 90 leads the break, drawing the Leverkusen defense toward him before laying it off to Lookman on the left. The Leverkusen box opens like a curtain, and he, once again, steps onto the stage for the final act.

A smooth first touch, then a sudden burst of speed. With a fluid movement, he glides past Tapsoba, shifts the ball onto his left foot, and fires a powerful shot into the top corner: it's 3-0. The deus ex machina of the match, Lookman, becomes the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final.

And at the final whistle, that black-and-blue corner of the Aviva, along with the entire city and province of Bergamo, can finally begin the celebrations. Because, if there was any doubt left, the Bergamo people are not limited by boundaries. After 90 minutes of pure ecstasy and breathless moments, the dream has come true: Atalanta 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen. "La Dea is in paradise!"

Here they are, the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯/𝟮𝟰 𝗨𝗘𝗙𝗔 𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦!!!

And after admiring and relishing each individual goal, it’s time to relive all the emotions of the final with the match highlights: because there are nights that aren’t enough in themselves, nights that demand to be experienced again, frame by frame, breath by breath.

The spotlight now shifts to the heroes of the night and the competition: taking the microphone first is the attacking duo Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta’s top scorer in the competition with 6 goals, and Ademola Lookman. For the number 90, Dublin marks a well-deserved night, the result of a performance where Atalanta played without the "reverential fear" that the opponent's history might have instilled.

The floor then goes to Ademola Lookman, the most anticipated figure in the mixed zone: the final’s MVP seals the moment with the words, "The cup is coming back with us to Bergamo." In celebrating the victory, Lookman is quick to highlight the importance of the collective effort: although he was the standout with an extraordinary performance, it was the "magic connection" with the team that made his individual success possible.

The moment then arrives for Berat Djimsiti, for whom the night in Dublin took on special significance: in the absence of the injured de Roon, he was entrusted with the honour (and the weight) of wearing the captain’s armband in a European final. Called upon to carry the torch from the Dutchman, the number 19 embraced the responsibility, which, at the final whistle, transformed into the profound joy of having led his teammates in writing an indelible page of Nerazzurri history.

And with that signature frankness that defines him, Djimsiti appeals to the city of Bergamo: to grant a day of rest, to fully embrace and celebrate a historic triumph. Djimsiti’s words are echoed by Charles De Ketelaere, who crowns his first season in Nerazzurri in the best possible way, lifting the trophy after a season marked by his starring role: "A legendary night."

The microphone now passes to the Atalanta arquero, Juan Musso, the black-and-blue sentinel on the European stage and a key figure in this unforgettable journey. After top-notch performances – including clean sheets at Anfield and in the semifinal return leg against Olympique Marseille – the number 1 once again stands tall as an impenetrable wall, on the biggest night of all. For Musso, Dublin is much more than just a final: it’s a dream come true, the culmination of a champion’s journey, and the perfect reward for an incredible fanbase for whom "giving everything" is the bare minimum.

The night’s closing words could only come from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. As the Nerazzurri coach highlights, the adjectives are endless to describe "the" perfect match, the one that sparked an extraordinary achievement. A masterpiece built with passion, courage, determination, and that unmistakable grit that finds its fullest expression in the motto “Mola mia”. But, as Gasperini himself reminds us, we cannot forget the long journey of the “Road to the Final". A path made possible not only by those who stepped onto the pitch but by everyone, in every role and corner of the Nerazzurri world, who played a key part in this historic run: The thoughts go to the President, the players, but especially to the fans—not just those in Dublin, but the entire city of Bergamo, which has always lived for Atalanta, and whose unwavering love has been both the engine and inspiration behind it all.

After the interviews, it’s time for the photos: timeless snapshots that capture the most intense moments of both the match and the trophy presentation. Emotions frozen in an instant, now firmly woven into the fabric of the Nerazzurri legend.

Next, the poses with the cup, the coveted prize of a legendary night. The entire Atalanta elite, from the owners to the directors, and of course the on-field heroes, take turns to touch the tangible symbol of an achievement that will be etched in history.