When final yr’s Champions League finalists Inter Milan had been knocked out by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, it appeared as if Italian soccer was on the point of making undesirable historical past.
With Atalanta trailing by two objectives and Juventus three down after their first-leg ties, there was an actual chance of a Champions League final 16 with none Italian golf equipment for the primary time since 1987-88, when the competitors was nonetheless the European Cup.
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However, whereas Juventus in the end got here up brief regardless of a powerful fightback in opposition to Galatasaray, Atalanta have change into the considerably unlikely saviours of Italian soccer within the Champions League.
Trailing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund from the primary leg of their knockout part play-off tie, they scored three objectives in 57 minutes – earlier than changing a dramatic last-second penalty after Karim Adeyemi’s purpose had seemed to have compelled additional time.
“Everybody had written us off,” mentioned Atalanta defender Davide Zappacosta.
“This match confirmed as soon as once more how robust this group is – we all the time imagine and we by no means quit.”
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Why Atalanta’s progress is essential for Italian soccer
Atalanta are Italy’s solely consultant within the Champions League final 16 [AFP via Getty Images]
Because the reintroduction of the last-16 knockout spherical to Europe’s showpiece competitors in 2003-04, there has all the time been no less than one Italian consultant.
Not since 1987-88, when Napoli went out within the first spherical of the European Cup to Actual Madrid, has Serie A had no groups within the final 16 of the competitors – or first knockout spherical when it took different codecs.
After Inter’s exit on Tuesday, many Italian soccer consultants had been labelling it a catastrophe for the game of their nation.
“It’s a piece of historical past,” mentioned journalist Vincenzo Credendino. “Talking about Italy and Inter, this is without doubt one of the worst items.”
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One other Italian soccer journalist, Daniele Verri, mentioned all three sides failing to make the knockouts would have been a “full debacle, a catastrophe for our golf equipment”.
Atalanta’s progress – and the way by which they battled by – no less than offers hope, though it would not get simpler for them within the final 16, with both Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting.
However in opposition to Dortmund, they confirmed the form of self-belief that may stand them in good stead in opposition to both the Premier League or Bundesliga leaders.
“Now Atalanta are the darlings of Italian soccer,” former West Brom and Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Reside.
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European soccer skilled James Horncastle added: “They’re kind of Serie A’s Bodo/Glimt in lots of respects.
“They had been a yo-yo membership till about eight years in the past and we have not solely seen them win a European trophy and attain three Coppa Italia finals however actually set up themselves within the Champions League.”
Soccer journalist Nicky Bandini described Atalanta’s comeback win as “important” for Italian soccer, including: “I feel there can be extra of a feelgood issue that carries over for a group like Atalanta than there can be for Juventus or for Inter as a result of they have not been historically one of many massive groups of Italian soccer.”
‘A dream come true’ – how Atalanta defied the percentages
Atalanta gained the Europa League in 2024 [AFP via Getty Images]
Whereas Inter and Juventus have a wealthy and profitable historical past in Europe’s premier membership competitors – they’ve gained 5 European Cups/Champions League titles between them – Atalanta are relative minnows by comparability.
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They first performed within the competitors in 2019 and have reached the final 16 twice earlier than, with their finest run being to the quarter-finals on their debut.
They did win the Europa League in 2024 however of their previous two Champions League appearances, have did not make the knockouts.
The Italians had by no means earlier than overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit, underlining the problem of the duty they confronted in opposition to Dortmund.
However the confirmed nice spirit and want, even after the frustration of Adeyemi’s purpose leveling up the tie after Atalanta had labored so laborious to go from 2-0 right down to 3-2 up on combination.
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“It is an unforgettable night time, a dream come true,” Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino mentioned.
“We put every thing into this efficiency: coronary heart, soul, spirit and braveness. We performed an Atalanta-style match, and that is why we’re so pleased with what we achieved.”
Atalanta captain Marten de Roon added: “We knew we needed to play the right match and we did.
“We suffered once we needed to, attacked once we needed to, and ultimately the result’s deserved.”
