2-0 from the first leg is not enough
©IMAGO
Borussia Dortmund bowed out of the Champions League early after a weak performance and suffered a multi-million dollar setback three days before the Bundesliga summit against Bayern Munich. BVB lost a two-goal lead in the play-off second leg at Atalanta Bergamo for only the second time in the club’s history and were eliminated 1:4 (0:2).
The deciding factor was a penalty goal from Berlin-born Lazar Samardžić in the eighth minute of stoppage time. After using the video evidence, the referee decided on a penalty and a yellow-red card for Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini.
Such an exit had only happened to Dortmund in the European Cup in December 1987 against FC Bruges. At that time, BVB failed after a 3-0 win in the first leg with a 5-0 defeat after extra time.
This time, Gianluca Scamacca (5th minute), Davide Zappacosta (45th), Mario Pašalić (57th) and Samardžić ensured the elimination of the Bundesliga runners-up in regular time, who in this condition are not a serious challenger for FC Bayern. Karim Adeyemi’s goal (75th) gave new hope, but was not enough.
Despite the two-goal cushion from the first leg, BVB officials had warned urgently against the seventh-place team in Serie A. “This is a really good team. We have to step on the gas and fight together,” said coach Niko Kovac shortly before kick-off.
Sports director Lars Ricken also made an urgent appeal to the team: “If anyone believes that we are in a comfortable situation, it can quickly lead to a rude awakening. That’s why we must not fall into passivity, but must actively play forward.”
There was no sign of that. In fact, the plan failed after just five minutes. Lorenzo Bernasconi was well presented on the left wing, his low cross pushed Scamacca unchallenged over the line at the far post. BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who had saved against Nicola Zalewski 60 seconds earlier, was powerless.
Borussia Dortmund is way too good
The early lead gave the home team even more inspiration. Driven by its hot-blooded fans, Atalanta pushed for the second goal, which Kobel prevented with a brilliant save from another shot from Zalewski (24th).
Captain Emre Can, who was in the starting line-up upon his return, was also unable to give the defense any security. The 32-year-old had missed five competitive games since the end of January due to adductor problems. The only real chance in the first half came from Julian Brandt, who failed with a low shot past Bergamo goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
Without the support of their Ultra fans, the Bundesliga club acted far too well. The organized supporters had stayed away from the game due to official measures in advance, which the club had criticized as “disproportionate” and in some cases “arbitrary”. “This is of course very bitter and very annoying for us,” said Kovac.
A few seconds before the break, the BVB coach saw Bensebaini deflect a long-range shot from Zappacosta unstoppable for Kobel. After the change, things got even worse. Pašalić was completely free when he received a cross from the half field and headed past Kobel.
A few minutes earlier, Maximilian Beier had missed a great chance to connect when he hit the post completely free. Dortmund didn’t have much more to offer on offense, even if Adeyemi provided hope. A penalty in added time made the decision.
