In the recent UEFA Champions League playoff matches, Italian teams experienced dramatic ups and downs. Atalanta, facing a 2-0 deficit from the first match, staged an impressive comeback by defeating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at home. The home team was in control from the second half, leading 3-0 before a late goal from Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi brought the aggregate score to 3-3. However, in a decisive moment during stoppage time, a mistake by Dortmund's goalkeeper Gregor Kobel led to a penalty, which was converted by Atalanta's Lazar Samardzic, securing the team’s advancement in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Juventus also faced Galatasaray in their playoff but fell short despite a strong performance. The Turin club was close to a significant comeback after losing the first leg as well, demonstrating the competitiveness of Italian clubs in European competitions this season. The excitement of these matches highlights the current trajectory of Italian football, with teams like Atalanta showing resilience and capability to overcome early setbacks. On the other hand, Juventus’s near-miss reflects the challenges faced by historically strong clubs in today’s competitive landscape of European football.