Two red cards, a VAR overturn and a crucial conversion penalty on the final kick of the match.
All of that happened in the final seconds of the game champions league Wednesday’s thriller between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund ultimately ensured Italy’s place in Europe’s top club competition.
Lazar Samardzic converted a penalty into the top corner in the eighth minute of stoppage time for Atalanta, who completed an unlikely comeback and reached the round of 16, winning 4-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
2024 runners-up Dortmund arrived with a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
“Everyone was looking down on us,” said Davide Zappacosta, one of Atalanta’s scorers. “But…we always believe and we never give up.”
Still, Atalanta needed help.
With extra-time looming, a mistake by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Korbel allowed Atalanta their last attack with three minutes of stoppage time remaining.
When a cross into the area reached Nikola Krstovic and he was about to head a simple header into an empty net, Dortmund defender Remy Bensabaini flicked out his boot and caught the Atalanta substitute on the top of his head, drawing blood.
A corner kick was initially awarded, but a penalty was awarded after a VAR check, Dortmund substitute Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a red card on the bench for a complaint, Bensabaini was shown a second yellow card for a foul, and Samardzic took the spot-kick, sparking jubilation inside Bergamo’s stadium. The referee blew at full time before Dortmund restarted the match.
Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino said: “It was an unforgettable night. A dream come true.”
Italy’s record of having at least one team reach the round of 16 since the reintroduction of the Champions League in 2003-2004 was under threat as Serie A champions Napoli finished 30th in the 36-team league and failed to even make the play-offs, and Inter Milan failed to even make the play-offs. Small Norwegian team lost to Bodø/Glimt in the playoffs on Tuesday.
This left Atalanta and Juventus, who beat Galatasaray 5-2 after the first leg.
Atalanta will return to the last 16 for the first time since the 2020-21 season and will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. The draw is on Friday.
Dortmund take the lead in the first leg
Atalanta made the quick start they needed after losing the first leg, with Gianluca Scamacca scoring in the fifth minute and Zappacosta also scoring just before half-time. In the 57th minute, Mario Pašalic headed home the third goal, giving the hosts the lead on aggregate.
Karim Adeyemi came off the bench for Dortmund to make it 3-3 on aggregate, but there was time for some drama in the second half.
UEFA said it was the first time in two European matches that Dortmund failed to score after leading by two goals in the first leg. The team had done it 10 times previously.
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