Atalanta Stage Historic Comeback to Eliminate Borussia Dortmund with Last-Second Penalty

Key Takeaways:

• Atalanta overturned a two-goal deficit and defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the New Balance Arena, advancing 4-3 on aggregate last night
• La Dea became the first team since 2018/19 to recover from a first-leg, two-goal disadvantage in a UEFA Champions League knockout tie
• Lazar Samardzic scored a stoppage-time penalty following a VAR-reviewed incident, securing Atalanta’s progression

Match Overview

Atalanta delivered a remarkable turnaround in the UEFA Champions League last 16, overcoming Borussia Dortmund with a dramatic 4-1 victory on home turf to progress 4-3 on aggregate. The Italians, trailing by two goals after the first leg, became the first team since the 2018/19 season to successfully surmount such a deficit in a knockout stage, sealing their passage with a last-gasp spot-kick.

𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎 🖤💙🖤💙#AtalantaBVB #UCL #GoAtalantaGo pic.twitter.com/M1QFWUFFYx

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 25, 2026

First-Half Action

Dortmund arrived in Bergamo enjoying an outstanding domestic run, having suffered just a single defeat in the Bundesliga throughout the season. Their two-goal advantage, however, was threatened instantly. Within five minutes, Gianluca Scamacca gave Atalanta a perfect start, finishing off Lorenzo Bernasconi’s cross after a set-up by Ramy Bensebaini. Nicola Zalewski had already tested Gregor Kobel with a sharp effort, while the Polish winger continued to menace Dortmund’s defensive line and narrowly missed with another attempt.

The German visitors gradually gained a foothold, creating their first notable opportunities: Serhou Guirassy sent a header wide at the back post, and Marco Carnesecchi was required to deny a quick-fire attempt from Julian Brandt. Nonetheless, Atalanta doubled both their tally on the night and their aggregate hopes shortly before half-time, when Davide Zappacosta’s deflected strike off Bensebaini wrong-footed Kobel, levelling the aggregate scoreline at the interval.

Second-Half Developments and Dramatic Climax

The second period saw a more evenly matched contest, with Mario Pasalic and Maximilian Beier trading close-range chances – Beier notably struck the upright with only the Atalanta goalkeeper to beat. Atalanta capitalised first: Pasalic glanced in Marten de Roon’s precise delivery, overturning the tie and sending the home supporters into ecstasy.

Dortmund manager Niko Kovac responded by introducing four substitutes over a ten-minute spell. The tactical reshuffle paid dividends when two replacements combined: Karim Adeyemi played a rapid exchange with Carney Chukwuemeka before bending a stylish finish with his left foot into the top corner, restoring aggregate parity and setting up a tense conclusion.

Key Incidents: VAR Drama and Late Penalty

As the final whistle approached and extra time seemed inevitable, a contentious sequence swung the contest. Goalkeeper Kobel, hitherto impressive, conceded possession outside his box. Scrambling back, he managed to tip Pasalic’s lobbed pass, inadvertently directing it into Nikola Krstovic’s path. In the frantic aftermath, Bensebaini’s clearance also resulted in his boot striking Krstovic’s head. VAR review prompted the referee to award a penalty and issue Bensebaini a straight red card. Lazar Samardzic converted the crucial penalty with virtually the final touch, extinguishing Dortmund’s hopes. Moments later, Nico Schlotterbeck, seated on the bench, also received a red card in a finale full of high drama.

For Atalanta, the result snapped a three-match UEFA Champions League losing streak in emphatic fashion, earning them a place in Friday’s draw, where they await potential ties against Bayern Munich or Arsenal. Dortmund’s capitulation ensured their first-leg superiority was rendered moot, compounding the disappointment with two red cards in the dying moments.