Atalanta in the Champions League Round of 16. End of cup dreams for Juventus Turin and Borussia Dortmund

The play-off phase of the elite competition has concluded, offering unexpected results and ultimately eliminating the decorated Italian and German clubs. The Atalanta Bergamo team remained as the only representative from the Italian league on the European stage, dynamically turning the tide of the rivalry with Borussia Dortmund. After a discouraging away defeat, the Italians triumphed at their own ground under extremely tense circumstances. Key goals in the first part of the match were effectively secured by Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta, while the rivals swiftly responded with a clever strike from Karim Adeyemi. The huge victory for the advancing hosts was formally sealed by a penalty kick, accurately beating the goalkeeper by Lazar Samardžić in the absolute final added minute of the contest. Results of key second-leg matches: Atalanta Bergamo 4:1 Borussia Dortmund; Juventus Turin 3:2 GalatasarayItalian football teams have for years built the reputation of the biggest tournaments on the Old Continent. The catastrophic farewell of leading Italian formations before the group stage constitutes the weakest export achievement of the Apennine Peninsula in the 21st century. The penalty itself was awarded by the referee after a cardinal foul by the Swiss goalkeeper of the Dortmund team escaping with the ball and an aggressively escalating incident involving player Ramy Bensebaini. The defender of the German structure seriously injured the head of rival Nikola Krstović with the metal studs of his boots. The gigantic political excitement of media commentators was fueled by the controversial sending-off of German Nico Schlotterbeck from the coaching zone for an alleged provocation towards the referee. The sporting director of the giant, based on profits, complained loudly about objective economic losses estimated at several tens of millions of euros from the perspective of the team's dismissal from the tournament, which significantly shook Niko Kovač's position. „Ich habe in dieser Sekunde den falschen Entscheid getroffen und nehme das auf meine Kappe. Es tut mir leid für die Jungs.” (I made the wrong decision in that second and I take that on my cap. I'm sorry for the guys.) — Gregor Kobel Meanwhile, a powerful blow to ambitions was recorded by the team, previously strongly led by coach Luciano Spalletti, operating Juventus Turin against the mighty Galatasaray Istanbul. The team, in an uncomfortable atmosphere, had to genuinely repair the defeat suffered earlier in Turkey and, despite heroic play after losing a player resulting in the necessity to operate with a shrunken system, bravely produced three decisive goals through Federico Gatti and Manuel Locatelli on their own frosty pitch. However, hopes for advancement were extinguished in extra time when goals for the visitors were scored by Victor Osimhen and Barış Alper Yılmaz. Although Juventus won the second leg 3:2, the 2:5 defeat in the first match in Turkey decided the elimination of the Turin side from the competition. An interesting fact halting the celebrations is the underlying seriousness of the former coaching connections of the shooting star on the pitch with the Italian domestic coach.10 — Juventus players played half of the Turin clash Brash crowd moods were intensified by abundant nocturnal pursuits of a hooligan transport squadron violating the customs of peaceful Piedmont and terrorizing the direct route to the sector for withdrawing fans. Commentators report an unexpected thrashing of Inter by Norwegian Bodø/Glimt, which after a 3:1 victory at home, also won in Milan 2:1. Although five goals were scored for the Norwegians in the two-legged tie, the match at San Siro itself did not end in a thrashing, but with a more modest, though sensational, victory for the visitors. Traditionally, seeking publicity, the press is not lacking in exploiting crowd paranoia, reviving comedic commentary in sports satires.„BVB continues to play in the Champions League. For this, the Dortmunders bought the Norwegian round of 16 participant Bodø/Glimt for 57 million euros.” (DIE WELT) — This formulation is an obvious editorial joke by the newspaper, which exaggerates the financial potential of clubs. Changing the results of UEFA cup competitions through the commercial takeover of an advancing formation is a structural physical mistake in governing rights and plain manipulation.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media admire the phenomenal David and Goliath narrative, pointing with satisfaction to the Scandinavian solidity of a provincial talent base uprooting the millionaires of entitled structures. Media independent of the trend point to the painful cluster of lost club images generally annoying investors of the European platform and losses of commercial revenues.