Atalanta produced a breathtaking comeback to overturn a two-goal first-leg loss and defeat Borussia Dortmund, sealing their place in the Champions League last 16 with a penalty scored at the very end of stoppage time.
Trailing 2-0 from the match in Germany, the Italian side made the perfect start in Bergamo. Just five minutes in, Lorenzo Bernasconi delivered a low ball from the left, and Gianluca Scamacca applied a simple finish from close range to ignite belief among the home supporters.
The momentum continued to build as Dortmund struggled to regain control. On the brink of half-time, Davide Zappacosta struck from a distance, and his effort deflected on its way past Gregor Kobel, drawing the tie level on aggregate before the interval.
Mario Pasalic then put Atalanta ahead in the tie in the 57th minute, completing a remarkable turnaround and shifting the pressure firmly onto the visitors.
Adeyemi’s response sets up dramatic finale
Borussia Dortmund refused to surrender and found a way back into the contest with 15 minutes remaining. Karim Adeyemi curled in a goal that restored parity overall and appeared to be steering the encounter towards extra time.
With the aggregate score balanced again, both teams pushed for a decisive moment in the closing stages. Chances came and went as the contest became increasingly stretched and frantic.
As stoppage time ticked away, it seemed the additional period was inevitable. However, a costly error from Kobel changed everything in the dying seconds.
A stoppage-time penalty sends Italians through
Failing to clear his lines, Kobel handed Atalanta one final opportunity. A cross into the box prompted Nikola Krstovic to stoop for a header, only for Ramy Bensebaini to catch him high with a raised boot.
After a VAR review for a potential penalty and possible dismissal, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez was directed to the monitor. He awarded the spot-kick and issued Bensebaini a second yellow card, reducing Dortmund to 10 men.
Amid heated protests from the German side, substitute Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a red card, while Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini was also dismissed following the confrontation.
Lazar Samardzic stepped up with composure under immense pressure and drove his penalty into the roof of the net, sparking wild celebrations inside the stadium and confirming Atalanta’s progress to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the next round.
It marked the first time since Liverpool’s 2019 semi-final triumph over Barcelona that a team has advanced in a knockout tie after losing the first leg by two or more goals.