Borussia Dortmund faced a disheartening exit from the Champions League after losing the playoff second leg match against Atalanta Bergamo 1:4. Despite securing a 2:0 victory in the first leg, Dortmund struggled to maintain their lead and ultimately succumbed to a flurry of late goals from Atalanta. The match was particularly tumultuous for goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and his teammates, who grappled with the shocking turn of events that led to their elimination.

The defining moment of the match occurred in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Lazar Samardzic, originally from Berlin, converted a controversial penalty after a VAR review. The referee penalized Dortmund's Ramy Bensebaini with a yellow-red card for a dangerous play against Atalanta's Nikola Krstovic. This decision not only swayed the momentum entirely in Atalanta's favor but also left Dortmund reeling and unable to recover from the mounting pressure.

With this loss, Borussia Dortmund's ambitions in the Champions League have faced a significant setback, raising concerns about the team's performance and morale. Their failure to advance despite an earlier advantage will likely prompt critical evaluations from management and fans alike, questioning strategies and player fitness moving forward in the season.