Atalanta BC reached the Champions League last 16 in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, defeating Borussia Dortmund 4–1 after a stoppage-time penalty to progress 4–3 on aggregate.
A 98th-minute spot-kick from Lazar Samardžić settled a breathless contest in Bergamo, capping a remarkable comeback after Dortmund had arrived with a 2–0 advantage from the first leg.
The Italian side were on the front foot from the outset, wiping out Dortmund’s aggregate lead before half-time.
Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring inside five minutes, finishing calmly after Ramy Bensebaini failed to clear his lines. Just before the interval, Davide Zappacosta doubled the lead when his effort deflected heavily off Bensebaini and found the net.
With the tie back level, Atalanta maintained the pressure. Mario Pašalić headed in from a Marten de Roon cross early in the second half to give the hosts the advantage on aggregate.
Despite being overwhelmed for much of the match, Dortmund responded through substitute Karim Adeyemi, who curled home a superb effort from the edge of the box with 15 minutes remaining to level the tie once more.
Extra time appeared inevitable, but Dortmund’s hopes were dashed in stoppage time. Bensebaini caught Nikola Krstović in the face with a high boot inside the area. After a VAR review, referee José Sánchez awarded a penalty and issued the defender a second yellow card.
Samardžić kept his composure to blast the decisive penalty into the net with virtually the final kick of the match.
The victory continues Atalanta’s revival under coach Raffaele Palladino, who replaced Ivan Jurić in November. The club are now unbeaten domestically in 2026 and remain Italy’s strongest hope in this season’s competition following Inter Milan’s surprise exit to Bodø/Glimt.
Atalanta will face either Arsenal FC or Bayern Munich in the last 16, with the draw scheduled for Friday.
For Dortmund, beaten finalists in 2024, it marks their earliest Champions League exit since 2021–22. Captain Emre Can admitted his side’s costly mistakes proved decisive, acknowledging they did not deserve to advance.
Atalanta, by contrast, march on — their European ambitions kept alive by nerve and composure at the death.
