'Darlings of Italian football' - how Atalanta salvaged national pride

When last year's Champions League finalists Inter Milan were knocked out by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, it seemed as if Italian football was on the brink of making unwanted history.

With Atalanta trailing by two goals and Juventus three down after their first-leg ties, there was a real possibility of a Champions League last 16 without any Italian clubs for the first time since 1987-88, when the competition was still the European Cup.

But, while Juventus ultimately came up short despite an impressive fightback against Galatasaray, Atalanta have become the somewhat unlikely saviours of Italian football in the Champions League.

Trailing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund from the first leg of their knockout phase play-off tie, they scored three goals in 57 minutes - before converting a dramatic last-second penalty after Karim Adeyemi's goal had looked to have forced extra time.

"Everyone had written us off," said Atalanta defender Davide Zappacosta.

"This match showed once again how strong this group is - we always believe and we never give up."

Since the reintroduction of the last-16 knockout round to Europe's showpiece competition in 2003-04, there has always been at least one Italian representative.

Not since 1987-88, when Napoli went out in the first round of the European Cup to Real Madrid, has Serie A had no teams in the last 16 of the competition - or first knockout round when it took other formats.

After Inter's exit on Tuesday, many Italian football experts were labelling it a disaster for the sport in their country.

"It is a piece of history," said journalist Vincenzo Credendino. "Speaking about Italy and Inter, this is one of the worst pieces."

Another Italian football journalist, Daniele Verri, said all three sides failing to make the knockouts would have been a "complete debacle, a disaster for our clubs".

Atalanta's progress - and the manner in which they battled through - at least provides hope, although it doesn't get easier for them in the last 16, with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting.

But against Dortmund, they showed the kind of self-belief that will stand them in good stead against either the Premier League or Bundesliga leaders.

"Now Atalanta are the darlings of Italian football," former West Brom and Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

European football expert James Horncastle added: "They're sort of Serie A's Bodo/Glimt in many respects.

"They were a yo-yo club until about eight years ago and we've not only seen them win a European trophy and reach three Coppa Italia finals but really establish themselves in the Champions League."

Football journalist Nicky Bandini described Atalanta's comeback win as "significant" for Italian football, adding: "I think there would be more of a feelgood factor that carries over for a team like Atalanta than there would be for Juventus or for Inter because they haven't been traditionally one of the big teams of Italian football."

While Inter and Juventus have a rich and successful history in Europe's premier club competition - they have won five European Cups/Champions League titles between them - Atalanta are relative minnows by comparison.

They first played in the competition in 2019 and have reached the last 16 twice before, with their best run being to the quarter-finals on their debut.

They did win the Europa League in 2024 but in their past two Champions League appearances, have failed to make the knockouts.

The Italians had never before overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit, underlining the difficulty of the task they faced against Dortmund.

But the showed great spirit and desire, even after the disappointment of Adeyemi's goal leveling up the tie after Atalanta had worked so hard to go from 2-0 down to 3-2 up on aggregate.

"It's an unforgettable night, a dream come true," Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino said.

"We put everything into this performance: heart, soul, spirit and courage. We played an Atalanta-style match, and that's why we're so happy with what we achieved."

Atalanta captain Marten de Roon added: "We knew we had to play the perfect match and we did.

"We suffered when we had to, attacked when we had to, and in the end the result is deserved."