BERGAMO – In one of the most dramatic nights in the club’s history, Atalanta overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 (4-3 on aggregate), securing a place in the Champions League Round of 16. A 98th-minute penalty from Lazar Samardzic settled a pulsating tie that looked destined for extra time.
The Palladino Effect
The victory continues the remarkable transformation of Atalanta under Raffaele Palladino. Since taking over in November, Palladino has steered the club to a 10-match unbeaten run in 2026, culminating in this European masterclass against the German giants.
Erasing the Deficit
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg in Germany, Atalanta wasted no time. Gianluca Scamacca ignited the Gewiss Stadium just five minutes in, pouncing on a defensive error from Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini.
The pressure remained relentless, and just before the interval, Davide Zappacosta’s deflected strike leveled the aggregate score, sending the home fans into a frenzy at half-time.
A Rollercoaster Second Half
The momentum stayed with the Italians as Mario Pasalic headed home early in the second half to give Atalanta their first aggregate lead of the tie. However, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac—who had predicted a “50-50” contest—saw his side fight back. Substitute Karim Adeyemi silenced the stadium with a spectacular curling effort 15 minutes from time to level the tie at 3-3.
The VAR Drama
With both sides bracing for extra time, a late scramble in the box led to a game-changing VAR review. Replays showed Bensebaini’s high boot catching Nikola Krstovic. Despite the Dortmund defender’s protests, the referee awarded the penalty and issued Bensebaini a second yellow card.
Step forward Lazar Samardzic. The Serbian midfielder displayed nerves of steel, smashing his left-footed penalty off the underside of the bar and into the net with virtually the final kick of the match.
Saving Italian Pride
Atalanta’s progression is more than just a club milestone; it is a lifeline for Serie A. Following Inter Milan’s shock exit to Bodo/Glimt and Juventus’s heartbreaking loss to Galatasaray, Atalanta stands as Italy’s primary hope in the Last 16.
Failure to progress would have marked the first time since 1988 that an Italian club failed to reach the knockout stages of Europe’s premier competition.
Match Facts
Result: Atalanta 4-1 Borussia Dortmund (4-3 Aggregate)
Scorers (Atalanta): Scamacca (5′), Zappacosta (45′), Pasalic (52′), Samardzic (90+8′ P)
Scorer (Dortmund): Adeyemi (75′)
Draw Info: Atalanta will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the next round.
