Two red cards, a VAR overturn and a decisive converted penalty with the last kick of the game.
All of that happened in the final seconds of a Champions League thriller between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund on Thursday morning (AEDT), and it ultimately ensured there will still be Italian representation in Europe’s top club competition.
Atalanta advanced to the round of 16 by capping an unlikely turnaround when Lazar Samardzic curled a penalty into the top corner in the eighth minute of stoppage time to clinch a 4-1 win on the night and a 4-3 victory on aggregate.
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Dortmund, the runner-up in 2024, had arrived with a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
“Everyone had written us off,” said Davide Zappacosta, one of Atalanta’s scorers, “but … we always believe and we never give up.”
Atalanta players celebrating after the win. Getty
Still, Atalanta needed a helping hand.
Extra time was looming when a mistake by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel allowed Atalanta to launch one last attack, after the allotted three minutes of stoppage time had been played.
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A cross into the area was about to reach Nikola Krstovic for a simple header into an empty net when Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini attempted a scorpion kick which caught the Atalanta substitute on the top of his head. Blood instantly flowed from a gash on his forehead.
A corner was initially given but after a VAR check, a penalty was awarded. Unused Dortmund substitute Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a red card on the bench for complaining and Bensebaini was shown a second yellow card for his foul. A third red card was shown to an unidentified staffer in the Atalanta dugout.
Dortmund player Ramy Bensebaini (yellow) was given a second yellow card for this challenge on Nikola Krstovic. Stan Sport
Samardzic dispatched his spot kick, sparking joyous scenes inside the stadium in Bergamo. The referee blew for full time before Dortmund could restart the match.
“It’s an unforgettable night,” Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino said, “a dream come true”.
Italy’s record of having at least one team in the round of 16 since that stage was reintroduced to the Champions League in 2003-04 was under threat after Serie A champion Napoli didn’t even make the playoffs, and Inter Milan was eliminated by tiny Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt earlier this week.
Blood immediately began flowing from Krstovic’s head after the tackle. NurPhoto via Getty Images
That left Atalanta and Juventus, the latter trailed Galatasaray 5-2 after the first leg. They won the second leg 3-2 but lost the tie on aggregate 5-7.
Atalanta is back in the last 16 for the first time since the 2020-21 season and will play either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. The draw is on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Having lost the first leg, Atalanta got the fast start it needed with Gianluca Scamacca netting in the fifth minute and Zappacosta also scoring before halftime. Mario Pašalić then headed in the third in the 57th minute to put the hosts ahead on aggregate.
Karim Adeyemi came off the bench for Dortmund to make it 3-3 on aggregate before the late drama,
According to UEFA, it marked the first time Dortmund has failed to convert on a two-goal, first-leg lead in a two-legged European matchup. The team had done so successfully 10 times before.
In the morning’s other matches, PSG and Monaco drew 2-2 which put the French giants through 5-4 on aggregate and Real Madrid secured a 2-1 (3-1) win over Benfica.
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