Atalanta produced one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent UEFA Champions League history, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to defeat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the second leg of the Knockout Round Play-offs. The aggregate score finished 4-3 in Atalanta's favor, securing their place in the Round of 16.
The match took place at the New Balance Arena (also known as Gewiss Stadium) in Bergamo, Italy, on February 25, 2026, with an attendance of 21,234 passionate fans creating an electric atmosphere.
Match Summary and Key Events
Atalanta faced an uphill battle after losing the first leg 2-0 in Germany. They needed goals early and delivered spectacularly.
Match Summary and Key Events
Atalanta faced an uphill battle after losing the first leg 2-0 in Germany. They needed goals early and delivered spectacularly.
5': Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring with a close-range tap-in from Lorenzo Bernasconi's low cross, igniting hope among the home supporters.
45': Davide Zappacosta doubled the lead right before halftime. His shot from outside the box took a crucial deflection, wrong-footing Dortmund's defense and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Scamacca flourishes under Palladino for Atalanta and Italy national team: 5 goals in 7 games.
At halftime, the score was Atalanta 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (aggregate 2-2), leveling the tie and setting up a tense second half.
57': Mario Pašalić made it 3-0 with an assist from Marten de Roon. This goal put Atalanta ahead on aggregate for the first time, turning the momentum firmly in their favor.
75': Karim Adeyemi pulled one back for Dortmund with a curled effort, assisted by Carney Chukwuemeka. The goal made it 3-1 on the night (aggregate 3-3), forcing the tie toward what seemed like extra time.
The game opened up with both sides pushing, but the decisive drama unfolded in stoppage time.
90'+7: Chaos erupted in the penalty area. Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel mishandled a clearance, leading to an Atalanta attack. Ramy Bensebaini caught substitute Nikola Krstović on the head with a reckless high boot while challenging for a cross. After a VAR review, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez awarded a penalty and showed Bensebaini a second yellow card (red). In the ensuing protests and melee, Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck and Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini were also sent off.
90'+8: Lazar Samardžić stepped up for the penalty in the highest-pressure moment. He kept his composure, blasting the ball into the roof of the net to make it 4-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations as Atalanta completed a stunning fightback.
Player Ratings and Standouts
Gianluca Scamacca was named Player of the Match with an average rating of 8.22, thanks to his early goal and overall influence. Lazar Samardžić (8.18) earned praise for his ice-cool penalty, while Davide Zappacosta (8.11) and Mario Pašalić (7.94) also shone.
This result marked a rare feat: Atalanta became only the latest team since Liverpool's famous 2019 semi-final comeback against Barcelona to advance after trailing by two or more goals in the first leg of a knockout tie.
Atalanta now advance to the Round of 16, where they will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich, with the draw set to take place soon.
A night of incredible desire, drama, and determination at the New Balance Arena — one that will live long in Atalanta folklore. Forza Atalanta!
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