Atalanta Vs Dortmund: Italians Stage Incredible Comeback with Last-Kick Penalty to Reach Champions League Last 16

In a seismic night that ended with the final whistle and the last kick of the game, the atalanta vs dortmund tie produced a dramatic finish as Atalanta won 4-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate to progress to the Champions League last 16. Lazar Samardzic converted an injury-time penalty to send the hosts through after a lengthy VAR check and a dismissal in stoppage time.

Atalanta Vs Dortmund: penalty, red card and last-kick drama

The contest looked out of reach for Atalanta after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Germany, but the hosts produced a stunning turnaround on Wednesday. Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta struck in the first half to level the tie on aggregate, Mario Pasalic made it 3-0 in the 57th minute, and substitute Karim Adeyemi curled in a 75th-minute strike to draw Dortmund level on aggregate at 3-3 before the decisive late incidents.

How the comeback unfolded in the atalanta vs dortmund tie

Atalanta began brightly and needed an early goal; Lorenzo Bernasconi delivered a low cross from the left and former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca was on hand to tap in in the fifth minute. As Dortmund grew unsettled, Davide Zappacosta added a second on the stroke of half-time when his shot from outside the box took a deflection and flew into the net. Mario Pasalic then headed home to make it 3-0 and, after Adeyemi’s curling leveller, the tie opened up with chances at both ends.

Key moments and match timeline

• 5th minute: Scamacca taps in from Bernasconi’s low cross.
• Half-time: Zappacosta’s shot deflects in to make it 2-0 on the night.
• 57th minute: Mario Pasalic heads home to make it 3-0 on the night.
• 49th minute: Marco Carnesecchi tipped Serhou Guirassy’s low drive wide to preserve the lead.
• 53rd minute: Maximilian Beier hit the post for Dortmund.
• 75th minute: Karim Adeyemi curls a strike into the top corner to level the aggregate at 3-3.
• 98th minute/third of three minutes stoppage time: penalty awarded after VAR review, Samardzic converts the last kick.

VAR review, the foul and the dismissal

In the dying seconds, a failed clearance by visiting keeper Gregor Kobel presented Atalanta with a chance. Ramy Bensebaini attempted a backward clearance and caught Nikola Krstovic on the head in the box as Krstovic stooped to meet the cross. The video assistant referee intervened to review the incident for a penalty and a potential red card. Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez was summoned to the screen, awarded the spot-kick and dismissed Bensebaini with a second yellow card; Samardzic then sent the ball into the roof of the net with the last kick of the game.

Reactions, consequences and what’s next

Home fans celebrated wildly at full time after an emotional night marked by desire and determination from their side. Sead Kolasinac described going through a "whirlwind of emotions" in the final seconds and noted that all usual penalty takers had been substituted before Lazar Samardzic stepped up and converted. Dortmund captain Emre Can reflected that an error-prone performance made progression difficult for his side.

Atalanta will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the round of 16, with the draw scheduled on Friday. The result completes a remarkable turnaround for the hosts, who recovered from a 2-0 first-leg deficit to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Champions League roundup: other ties referenced in the context

Also on the night, Paris Saint-Germain progressed after a 2-2 draw with 10-man Monaco that produced a 5-4 aggregate score in PSG’s favour; Maghnes Akliouche scored to give Monaco the lead, Mamadou Coulibaly was sent off in the second half, and Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored for PSG before Jordan Teze made it 2-2 late on. A player involved in those ties, Désiré Doué, reflected on the stress of late goals and noted he had scored twice in the first leg. In another tie, Galatasaray fended off a late Juventus fightback and benefited from a Victor Osimhen extra-time strike to seal a 7-5 aggregate victory.