Borussia Dortmund are out of the Champions League after a dismal performance against Atalanta
Atalanta produced a magnificent comeback to knock Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League in the most dramatic fashion tonight.
The Bundesliga side came into the second leg of the play-off with a commanding 2-0 advantage but were unable to get the job done in Bergamo.
Having fallen 3-0 behind on the night, Dortmund levelled the tie thanks to Karim Adeyemi but some woeful defending from Ramy Bensebaini gifted Atalanta a penalty in the 98th minute and Lazar Samardžić made no mistake.
Bensebaini error sees Atalanta take early lead
Dortmund would have hoped for a calm opening to silence the crowd but Bensebaini, who had a dismal night, got his feet in a tangle after just five minutes, allowing a low cross to find Gianluca Scamacca and he slotted home.
Atalanta’s Nicola Zalewski and Dortmund’s Julian Brandt both came close before the hosts doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.
Gregor Kobel flapped at a cross and his punch only went as far as Davide Zappacosta, whose drive struck the hapless Bensebaini and flew into the net.
Home goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi kept out a Serhou Guirassy effort and Maximilian Beier hit the post before Atalanta went down the other end to make it 3-0 after 57 minutes.
Marten de Roon was the architect with a cross that was perfect for Mario Pasalic to head past Kobel at the far post.
Adeyemi gives Dortmund hope
Adeyemi was introduced off the bench by Niko Kovac and dragged Dortmund back into the tie following a nice exchange with fellow substitute Carney Chukwuemeka.
Extra-time was looming, only for Bensebaini to lazily stretch a leg out behind him, catching Nikola Krstović in the face. Referee Jose Maria Sanchez was ordered to the screen by the VAR and once he’d sent off Giorgio Scalvini and Nico Schlotterbeck for a touchline tussle, he returned to show Bensebaini a second yellow and point to the spot.
The pressure was on Samardzic but he showed admirable poise to fire the spot-kick past Kobel and into the top right-hand corner to spark scenes of delirium from the home supporters.
Atalanta became the first side since Liverpool in 2018/19 against Barcelona to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit in a Champions League knockout tie.
