Atalanta 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga Giants Crash Out of UCL after Away Defeat | UCL

Atalanta BC pulled off a breathtaking comeback in the Champions League playoff game, beating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Gewiss Stadium to reach the knockout stage. Check out Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund player ratings from the playoff second leg.

The Italian side started fast. Gianluca Scamacca scored in the fifth minute. He took his chance well and gave Atalanta an early lead. The goal set the mood for the rest of the match.

Atalanta stayed in control. Just before halftime, Davide Zappacosta scored with a powerful long-range shot. It was a great goal and made it 2-0.

The home team did not slow down after the break. Mario Pasalic added a third goal in the second half. Dortmund struggled to respond.

The German side scored once through a substitute, giving them slight hope. But it did not last long. In stoppage time, Ramy Bensebaini was sent off after giving away a penalty.

Lazar Samardžić calmly scored from the spot to make it 4-1.

It was a famous night for Atalanta. Dortmund were outplayed from start to finish.

Key Takeaways

1. Gianluca Scamacca scored in the 5th minute to give Atalanta BC an early lead against Borussia Dortmund.
2. Davide Zappacosta fired in a powerful long-range goal just before halftime to make it 2-0.
3. Ramy Bensebaini saw red in stoppage time, and Lazar Samardzic converted the penalty to seal a 4-1 win.

Atalanta Player Ratings vs Borussia Dortmund

Check out Atalanta player ratings from the UCL game against Borussia Dortmund:

Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi - 6.5: He only conceded one goal which is a positive. Carnesecchi made three saves, including a couple of important ones inside the box. However, what stood out to us was his distribution, which was a bit hit-and-miss. He wasn't tested for long periods but did what was required when called upon. A mostly comfortable evening for the keeper.

Defenders

Isak Hien - 7.0: A really solid display at the heart of the defense. From our perspective, he was a rock, making a staggering seven clearances and four interceptions. He was a bit aggressive, picking up a yellow card, but his commanding presence was vital. He won the majority of his aerial duels and kept Dortmund's forwards quiet.

Sead Kolasinac - 7.0: Very effective before he was substituted in the second half. He was composed on the ball, boasting a high pass accuracy. He even created a chance for his teammates. Defensively, he was solid and contributed well to building attacks from the back. A disciplined and tidy performance.

Giorgio Scalvini - 6.5: A decent, if unspectacular, outing for the young defender. He did his job well, making a few important tackles and clearances. We noticed he was dribbled past on one occasion. But overall, he was a reliable part of a backline that was rarely troubled. His positioning was generally sound.

Midfielders

Mario Pašalić - 8.5: This was a top-tier performance and he's our pick for the highest-rated player. He was simply outstanding in the midfield, capping his display with a clinical header. His passing was crisp and he was a constant threat going forward. Defensively, he contributed with tackles and clearances. A true box-to-box masterclass from the Croatian.

Marten de Roon - 7.5: The captain put in a real shift. He provided a fantastic assist for Pašalić's goal with a perfect cross. He worked tirelessly, covering a lot of ground and breaking up play. He will be slightly disappointed to have missed a big chance himself. But his leadership and work rate were exemplary.

Lorenzo Bernasconi - 6.5: An energetic performance on the flank. He was always looking to get forward and delivered six crosses into the box. The final product wasn't always there, with only one finding its target. He also lost possession a bit too often for our liking. A mixed bag, but his effort can't be faulted.

Davide Zappacosta - 8.5: Absolutely phenomenal. He scored a sensational long-range goal that lit up the stadium. He was a menace all night, combining solid defensive work with dangerous attacking runs. He won most of his duels and was a constant outlet for his team. An all-action performance that terrorized Dortmund's left side.

Forwards

Gianluca Scamacca - 8.0: He set the tone with a classic poacher's goal early on. Scamacca was a physical nightmare for the Dortmund defense, holding the ball up well and bringing others into play. He created a couple of chances and was a constant focal point of the attack. His goal was crucial in establishing Atalanta's dominance.

Lazar Samardžić - 8.0: A very impressive display. He showed immense composure to score the late penalty. Beyond the goal, he was a creative force, creating chances and linking play with near-perfect passing accuracy. He was a tricky and intelligent player who caused numerous problems and drew several fouls.

Nicola Zalewski - 7.5: A livewire in attack. He was not afraid to take shots, registering four attempts in the game. His direct running and dribbling caused plenty of issues for the opposition. While he didn't score, his energy and attacking intent were key to Atalanta's high-pressure system. A very good showing.

Manager

R. Palladino - 8.5: His game plan was executed to perfection. Atalanta came out with incredible intensity, pressing high and attacking with purpose. The team was organized, aggressive, and ruthless in front of goal. Palladino completely out-thought his counterpart in what was a tactical masterclass.

Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Here are Borussia Dortmund player ratings from the Champions League game against Atalanta:

Goalkeeper

Gregor Kobel - 4.5: A truly difficult night for the Dortmund keeper. He shipped four goals and looked shaky throughout. While he made four saves, he couldn't command his penalty area effectively. He had little chance with some of the goals, but it was a performance that lacked confidence and authority. A day he'll want to forget quickly.

Defenders

Waldemar Anton - 4.0: He really struggled against Atalanta's fluid attack. Anton lost half of his defensive duels and seemed a step behind the play all evening. His contribution on the ball was fine, but his primary job is to defend. And from our perspective, he failed to provide any real security at the back.

Ramy Bensebaini - 2.0: A calamitous performance. It's hard to find any positives. He was rash in the challenge, leading to a yellow card, before a moment of madness saw him concede a penalty and receive a second yellow. His decision-making was appalling, and he completely let his team down. A clear worst performer on the pitch.

Emre Can - 5.0: As captain, he tried to lead, but it was a lost cause. He made seven clearances, but he was also part of a defensive unit that was in total disarray. Can picked up a yellow card and his passing was often wayward. He couldn't impose himself or organize the chaos around him.

Midfielders

Jobe Bellingham - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. His pass completion was impressively high, but it led to nothing. He was largely invisible, offering little in attack and not enough protection defensively. He was subbed off after 70 minutes having made no real impact on the proceedings.

Felix Nmecha - 5.0: Much like Bellingham, Nmecha was a passenger. He completed a lot of passes but none of them threatened the Atalanta defense. He lost most of his duels and was easily bypassed by the opposition's dynamic midfield. A performance that lacked any sort of bite or creativity.

Daniel Svensson - 5.5: You could see the effort was there, but it amounted to very little. He was tidy enough in possession but lacked the quality to make a difference in the final third. Defensively, he was often caught out and dribbled past a couple of times. A frustrating evening for him.

Julian Ryerson - 6.0: One of the few Dortmund players who can hold their head up. He showed some fight and even created a big chance for his team. However, he was still part of a unit that was comprehensively outplayed. He lost possession ten times which is far too many.

Forwards

Serhou Guirassy - 5.0: A really poor night for the striker. What stood out to us were the two big chances he missed. On another day, he could have had a couple of goals. His hold-up play was okay, but in front of goal he was wasteful and looked completely off his game.

Julian Brandt - 5.5: He managed one shot on target but was otherwise completely anonymous. For a player of his quality, he failed to influence the game in any meaningful way. He was dispossessed too easily and seemed to drift through the match before being substituted.

Maximilian Beier - 6.0: In his hour on the pitch, he was one of Dortmund's few bright sparks. He looked lively, created a couple of chances, and was desperately unlucky to see his shot cannon off the woodwork. He at least showed some intent, which was more than could be said for many of his teammates.

Manager

N. Kovač - 3.0: A dreadful night for the manager. His team appeared to have no defensive structure or attacking plan. They were disorganized, passive, and completely overwhelmed by Atalanta's system. His substitutions made little difference. He was thoroughly outcoached and has serious questions to answer after this humbling defeat.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Mario Pasalic

Worst Performer

Ramy Bensebaini had a bad outing in the Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund UCL game.