Atalanta produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Champions League history on Tuesday night, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo. The Italian side advanced 4-3 on aggregate after a pulsating encounter that required extra time and featured a dramatic red card and penalty in the closing stages.
The hosts wasted no time in signaling their intent. Gianluca Scamacca found the net inside five minutes, sparking a wave of belief around the sold-out stadium. Atalanta maintained relentless pressure throughout the first half, and their efforts were rewarded just before the break when Davide Zappacosta fired home to make it 2-0 on the night, cutting the aggregate deficit to a single goal. The 21,234 fans packed into the arena sensed something special was unfolding.
The second half brought more of the same attacking verve from Gian Piero Gasperini's men. Mario Pasalic struck in the 57th minute to level the tie on aggregate at 3-2 in Atalanta's favor on away goals. Dortmund, who had looked so comfortable after their first-leg victory, were suddenly staring at elimination. The German side desperately needed a response, and Karim Adeyemi provided one in the 75th minute, finishing coolly to make it 3-1 on the night and level the aggregate score at 3-3.
With the tie locked after 90 minutes, the match headed into extra time. The decisive moment arrived in the 96th minute when Nico Schlotterbeck brought down Nikola Krstovic inside the penalty area. After a VAR review confirmed the foul, the referee showed Schlotterbeck a straight red card, reducing Dortmund to ten men. Lazar Samardzic stepped up to take the penalty and converted with composure in the 97th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures and putting Atalanta 4-3 ahead on aggregate.
Dortmund, now a man down, threw everything forward in search of an equalizer but Atalanta's defense held firm. The statistics told the story of Atalanta's dominance: nine shots on target compared to Dortmund's four, with 15 total attempts to the visitors' seven. Despite having only 43.7 percent of possession, Atalanta were ruthlessly efficient in front of goal.
The match was also notable for its physical intensity. Ramy Bensebaini picked up a yellow card as early as the 12th minute, Emre Can followed in the 52nd, and both Isak Hien and Fabio Silva were cautioned in the 70th minute. Schlotterbeck's red card capped a difficult evening for Dortmund's defense.
For Atalanta, this comeback ranks among the finest in their history and underlines the progress they have made on the European stage. Having trailed 2-0 from the first leg in Dortmund, few gave them a chance of progressing. Yet Gasperini's side showed extraordinary character and tactical intelligence to dismantle their opponents over 120 breathtaking minutes in Bergamo. They now await the draw for the next round of the Champions League with justified confidence.
Comments