BERGAMO, Italy -- Atalanta produced one of the most extraordinary comebacks in recent Champions League history on Tuesday night, defeating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Gewiss Stadium to advance to the Round of 16 with a 4-3 aggregate victory. The match, played on February 25, reached a fever pitch in the dying seconds when Lazar Samardzic slammed a penalty into the top corner in the 98th minute to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side entered the second leg facing a daunting 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Dortmund. Few gave them a realistic chance of progressing, but the Bergamo faithful who packed the stadium witnessed a performance of sheer determination and attacking brilliance that will live long in the memory.

Atalanta set the tone early. Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring to give the home side the spark they needed, and Davide Zappacosta doubled the advantage before halftime to level the tie on aggregate at 2-2. The atmosphere inside the Gewiss Stadium was electric as the Italian club sensed that the impossible was becoming possible.

The second half brought even more drama. Mario Pasalic rose highest to head in a third goal in the 57th minute, putting Atalanta ahead on aggregate for the first time across the two legs. Dortmund, stunned by the ferocity of the Italian onslaught, were suddenly staring at elimination.

But Nuri Sahin's side refused to go quietly. Karim Adeyemi, introduced as a substitute, struck to make it 3-1 on the night, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3 and sending the tie into what appeared to be a nail-biting finish with momentum swinging back toward the German club. With away goals no longer a tiebreaker under current UEFA rules, extra time loomed large.

Then came the moment that will define Atalanta's season. Deep into stoppage time, with the clock showing 97 minutes, a VAR review identified a foul inside the Dortmund penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot and showed Ramy Bensabaini a second yellow card, reducing Dortmund to ten men for the final seconds. Samardzic, displaying nerves of steel under immense pressure, stepped up and fired the ball into the top corner, sending the stadium into delirium.

The final whistle blew moments later, confirming Atalanta's 4-3 aggregate triumph. Players collapsed to the ground in celebration while Dortmund's squad stood in disbelief, their Champions League campaign ended in the cruelest fashion imaginable.

For Atalanta, this marks their return to the Champions League knockout rounds proper for the first time since the 2020-21 season, when they reached the Round of 16. They now face a formidable opponent in the next round, with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting them in the draw.

Gasperini's tactical adjustments were masterful throughout the evening. His decision to push the team forward from the opening whistle paid dividends, and the relentless pressing game that has become Atalanta's trademark proved too much for Dortmund to handle over 90 minutes.

The result serves as another reminder that in the Champions League, no deficit is insurmountable. For Dortmund, the pain of conceding a last-gasp penalty after clawing their way back into the tie will be difficult to process. For Atalanta and their passionate supporters, this was a night that encapsulated everything magical about European football.