In a dramatic Champions League knockout stage return leg, Atalanta Bergamo defeated Borussia Dortmund 4:1, overturning a two-goal deficit from the first leg. The fate of advancement was sealed by a penalty kick in the 98th minute of the match, awarded after VAR intervention. The Italian team, as the sole Serie A representative, booked their place in the round of 16, while last year's finalists from Dortmund end their participation in the prestigious competition amidst refereeing controversies.

Decisive Penalty Kick

Lazar Samardžić scored the winning goal in the 98th minute of the match, securing Atalanta's advancement in stoppage time.

BVB Defensive Errors

A disastrous pass from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and a brutal foul by Ramy Bensebaini led to the visitors' defeat.

Italian Triumph Over Crisis

Atalanta became the only Italian team in the round of 16 after the eliminations of Inter Milan and Juventus Turin.

Atalanta Bergamo achieved a historic feat, overturning the tie against Borussia Dortmund after a 0:2 loss in Germany. The Italian team imposed a relentless pace from the start, resulting in a goal by Gianluca Scamacca as early as the 5th minute. The hosts dominated the first half, leveling the aggregate score just before halftime with a shot from Davide Zappacosta that deflected off Ramy Bensebaini. Coach Raffaele Palladino's strategy, based on high pressing and aggressive one-on-one play, completely paralyzed the BVB defense. In the second half, Mario Pašalić put Atalanta ahead in the tie, but an individual effort by Karim Adeyemi in the 75th minute gave the Germans hope, leveling the aggregate score at 3:3. As fans prepared for extra time, a series of errors occurred in the visitors' team. A disastrous pass from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel initiated the final action of the match. In the penalty area, Ramy Bensebaini kicked Nikola Krstović in the head, which after VAR analysis resulted in a penalty and a red card for the Algerian. Lazar Samardžić confidently converted the spot kick in the eighth minute of stoppage time, setting the final score at 4:1. The last time Borussia Dortmund squandered such a lead in European cups was in December 1987, when after a 3:0 win against Club Brugge, they lost the return leg 0:5.The match ended in an atmosphere of chaos – besides Bensebaini, Giorgio Scalvini and substitute Nico Schlotterbeck also saw red cards. Spanish referee José María Sánchez Martínez found himself under fire from Dortmund players who questioned the validity of Schlotterbeck's dismissal. For Italian football, Atalanta's advancement is symbolic, as it saved Serie A from complete absence in the knockout stages after the earlier eliminations of Inter and Juventus. „E' stata la partita più bella della mia carriera da allenatore. Una serata che resterà nella storia del calcio italiano e nel cuore di tutti i nostri tifosi.” (It was the most beautiful match of my coaching career. An evening that will remain in the history of Italian football and in the hearts of all our fans.) — Raffaele Palladino

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