Dortmund defeated by a clear penalty in stoppage-time, Atalanta qualified

Atalanta produced a stunning comeback to eliminate Dortmund and reach the Champions League last 16. Despite Dortmund holding a 2-0 first-leg advantage, the Italian hosts dominated early. Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta scored first-half goals, erasing the deficit. Mario Pasalic subsequently put Atalanta ahead on aggregate, yet Karim Adeyemi’s brilliant solo strike leveled the tie for Dortmund.

Just as extra time seemed inevitable, a dramatic late VAR intervention changed everything. Ramy Bensebaini was penalized for a dangerous high boot on Nikola Krstovic, resulting in a stoppage-time spot-kick. Lazar Samardzic smashed home the winner in the 98th minute. This victory continues Atalanta’s remarkable resurgence under Raffaele Palladino, who remains unbeaten domestically in 2026. Their qualification is crucial for Italian football, preventing a historic failure not seen since 1988, following Inter Milan’s shock exit. Atalanta now awaits Friday’s draw to face Arsenal or Bayern Munich, proving they remain a formidable European force.