In a thrilling Champions League match, Atalanta overturned a first-leg deficit to defeat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 on Wednesday evening, ensuring their place in the last 16 of the tournament with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline. Despite trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Atalanta showcased a strong performance, leveling the tie by halftime with goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta. Mario Pasalic later gave Atalanta the lead in the tie, but Dortmund equalized through a brilliant solo effort by Karim Adeyemi, setting the stage for a tense finish.

As the match neared its conclusion, tensions escalated, leading to a critical moment when referee Jose Sanchez awarded a penalty to Atalanta after Ramy Bensebaini was sent off for a second yellow card, resulting from a foul on Nikola Krstovic in the box. This decision came just moments before the match was set to head into extra time, highlighting the dramatic twists that often characterize knockout football. Lazar Samardzic converted the last-minute penalty in the 98th minute, sealing Atalanta's comeback and sending their fans into jubilation.

The emotional weight of the match was not lost on Atalanta's players, particularly former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac, who described experiencing a