UCL: Atalanta Stun Dortmund with Dramatic Last-Gasp Penalty Win

Atalanta Vs Dortmund

Atalanta BC overturn 2-goal deficit, defeat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 (4-3 agg) with late penalty. Dramatic win sends Atalanta to UCL last 16, Dortmund exit amid late red cards and controversy.

Atalanta end three-game UCL losing streak, face Bayern or Arsenal next...

Atalanta BC made a stunning comeback, defeating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout tie, securing a 4-3 aggregate win and booking their spot in the last 16. This remarkable turnaround saw La Dea overcome a two-goal deficit from the first leg, becoming the first team to achieve this feat in a UCL knockout tie since the 2018/19 campaign.

Dortmund had come into the match in good form, with only one loss in the Bundesliga this season, but their two-goal advantage was quickly erased in Bergamo. Gianluca Scamacca scored within the first five minutes, and Davide Zappacosta doubled the lead before halftime. Mario Pasalic's header put Atalanta ahead on aggregate, but Karim Adeyemi's 75th-minute goal leveled the tie. The drama didn't end there, as Ramy Bensebaini's red card for a high boot on Nikola Krstovic led to a penalty, which Lazar Samardzic converted with the last kick of the game, securing Atalanta's place in the next round.

Atalanta fight back to secure their round of 16 spot 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/aEvvLigw5J

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 25, 2026

Nicola Zalewski was on fire, drawing a top-notch save from Gregor Kobel early on. Lorenzo Bernasconi's cross found its way to Gianluca Scamacca via Ramy Bensebaini, and the Italian striker tapped it home.

The hosts kept pushing, causing Dortmund grief, with Zalewski being a major nuisance. The Poland star drew another stunning save from Kobel and later saw his effort from outside the box curl just over the bar.

Dortmund started to take control around the 30-minute mark, creating chances of their own.

Serhou Guirassy headed wide at the back post, but Marco Carnesecchi was sharp, denying Julian Brandt's quick shot. Despite this, Atalanta went into halftime 2-1 down, getting a lucky break when Davide Zappacosta's shot deflected off Bensebaini, wrong-footing Kobel.

After the break, the game became more evenly matched, with both teams creating scoring opportunities.

Mario Pasalic had a chance, firing the ball at Kobel inside the area, but the Dortmund goalkeeper held firm. Shortly after, Maximilian Beier had a great opportunity, bearing down on goal with only Kobel to beat, but his shot struck the post from a tight angle.

The away team's lack of clinical finishing was punished as Atalanta scored a third goal, putting them ahead in the tie. Pasalic was the hero, scoring with a glancing header from Marten de Roon's inswinging cross, sending the home crowd wild.

Niko Kovac responded by making four subs in 10 minutes, and it paid off.

Guirassy had a chance to put Dortmund ahead, but miskicked it. Then, two of Kovac's subs combined to level the tie 

Karim Adeyemi played a quick one-two with Carney Chukwuemeka before curling into the top corner on his left foot, setting up an enthralling final quarter-hour.

Just as extra time seemed inevitable, a controversial moment decided the encounter late on. Kobel, who had been excellent throughout, lost the ball outside of his area, allowing Atalanta to launch one last attack.

The Swiss shot-stopper then got a fingertip to Pasalic’s lobbed pass, which only directed it into the path of Nikola Krstovic, and although Bensebaini did clear the ball for the corner, he caught the striker’s head with his boot in the follow-through.

Incredible comeback by Atalanta! 🖤💙#UCL pic.twitter.com/AKNg66P0uo

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 25, 2026

Following a VAR intervention, a penalty was awarded, and a red card to Bensabaini was dished out, allowing Lazar Samardzic to convert from the spot with the last kick of the game.

Dortmund’s exit could not have been more dramatic, with Nico Schlotterbeck also seeing a red card brandished while on the bench, but they only have themselves to blame for allowing a comfortable first-leg win to slip through their fingers.

Locomotiva @DZappacosta 🚄🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/k57vuJ0BeS

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 25, 2026

Atalanta, though, brought an end to a three-game losing UCL streak in style, and can now look forward to Friday’s draw to find out if they face Bayern Munich or Arsenal next.