Atalanta 4-1 Borussia Dortmund (4-3 agg): Italians overturn two-goal deficit to reach last 16

Here’s the part that matters: atalanta’s squad, their supporters and a stunned Dortmund dressing room felt immediate consequence when a stoppage-time penalty — awarded after a VAR check — sent the Italians through to the last 16. The win reshuffles who advances and sets up a showdown with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich; emotions, discipline and match-management now sit front and center for both clubs.

Impact on squad, fans and the knockout roadmap: Atalanta forced a sudden calendar question

Atalanta’s players celebrated wildly at the final whistle as a last-gasp penalty completed a 4-1 home victory that overturned a two-goal deficit from the first leg and produced a 4-3 aggregate comeback. The result means Atalanta will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16, with the round-of-16 draw scheduled for Friday. For Dortmund, disciplinary fallout and individual errors have immediate consequences: a red card, conceded momentum and an early exit from the competition.

Key moments and decisive incidents (match snapshot)

• Early spark: Lorenzo Bernasconi’s low cross from the left found former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca, who tapped in in the fifth minute to get Atalanta going.
• Half-time swing: Davide Zappacosta’s shot from outside the box deflected into the net off Ramy Bensebaini on the stroke of half-time, making it 2-0 on the night and leveling the tie on aggregate after Atalanta had lost the first leg 2-0 in Germany.
• Second-half control: Mario Pasalic headed home at the far post to make it 3-0 on the night (3-2 on aggregate) in the 57th minute.
• Dortmund reply: Substitute Karim Adeyemi curled a 75th-minute effort into the top corner to pull Dortmund level overall and open the tie again.
• Late drama: In the third of three minutes of stoppage time — described also as the 98th minute in coverage — Gregor Kobel’s failed clearance led to a cross, Nikola Krstovic stooped to meet it and was struck on the head by Bensebaini’s backward flick. After a VAR check and referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez reviewing the pitch-side monitor, a penalty was awarded and Bensebaini shown a second yellow card.
• Decisive kick: Lazar Samardzic kept his composure to convert the spot-kick with the last kick of the game, sending Atalanta through 4-3 on aggregate.

Players, saves and near-misses that shaped the tie

Atalanta’s goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi produced a key intervention when he tipped Serhou Guirassy’s low drive wide in the 49th minute, described as the save of the match. Dortmund went close in the 53rd minute when Maximilian Beier’s shot bounced off the post. Earlier in the night, Kobel was busy in the first half, twice denying Nicola Zalewski, before his late clearance error contributed to the decisive chance. Krstovic went down bleeding after the clash in the box.

Reactions, discipline and wider Champions League notes

Sead Kolasinac said he experienced "a whirlwind of emotions" in the final seconds, noting that many regular penalty takers had been substituted and that Samardzic’s conversion was fortunate timing for the home side. Dortmund captain Emre Can reflected on individual mistakes, saying the team’s error-prone night left them with little right to progress.

In the broader knockout picture, Paris Saint-Germain edged past 10-man Monaco after a 2-2 draw on the night gave them a 5-4 aggregate victory; Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche scored to level on aggregate before Mamadou Coulibaly was sent off in the second half, a turning point that preceded goals from Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with Jordan Teze later making it 2-2. Galatasaray also advanced, fending off a 10-man Juventus as Victor Osimhen struck in extra time to help the Turkish side to a 7-5 aggregate win.

What’s easy to miss is how many small margins decided this night: a deflected shot at half-time, a keeper’s late error and the timing of substitutions all converged in the final seconds to flip the tie.

Short timeline

• 5' – Scamacca tap-in from Bernasconi cross.
• ~45' – Zappacosta shot deflected off Bensebaini into the net.
• 49' – Carnesecchi save on Guirassy.
• 57' – Pasalic header.
• 75' – Adeyemi curling strike for Dortmund.
• Stoppage time (third of three minutes / 98') – VAR review, Bensebaini sent off, Samardzic penalty scored with the last kick.

The real question now is how both clubs respond: Atalanta must manage a surge of confidence and fixture planning ahead of a last-16 tie with Arsenal or Bayern Munich, while Dortmund must address discipline and the individual errors that cost them a place in the knockout rounds.