Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca labels the 4-1 comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund a historic feat.
Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca has hailed his side’s sensational 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund as one of the biggest feats in the club’s history.
After a disappointing first leg that left them trailing by two goals, the Italian side produced an extraordinary display in Bergamo to secure a 4-3 aggregate win. Scamacca emphasized that while the result might have seemed unpredictable to those on the outside, the players never lost faith in their ability to turn the tie around.
The comeback began with a spark of intent just five minutes into the match. Scamacca himself found the back of the net early, a goal he believes was crucial for setting the tone and igniting the belief within the stadium.
By halving the aggregate deficit so quickly, Atalanta forced Dortmund into a defensive shell, allowing the hosts to play their trademark high-intensity football and eventually overwhelm the German visitors.
A key theme of the night was the strength of the entire squad, not just the starting eleven. Scamacca was quick to praise his teammates who came off the bench, noting that they were “just as good as the starters” and made the ultimate difference in the closing stages.
This depth was perfectly illustrated in the 98th minute when Lazar Samardzic stepped up under immense pressure to bury the winning penalty with the very last kick of the game.
𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎 🖤💙🖤💙#AtalantaBVB #UCL #GoAtalantaGo pic.twitter.com/M1QFWUFFYx
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 25, 2026
The striker also credited the “Palladino Effect” for the team’s mental and tactical transformation. Since taking the reins in November, head coach Raffaele Palladino has won an incredible 15 out of 23 matches. Scamacca noted that the coach has provided the squad with a much-needed “push” and the energy required to rediscover their identity, ensuring they stayed on the right track even after the poor performance in the first leg.
Beyond the tactics, the atmosphere at the New Balance Arena played a massive role in the victory. Scamacca described the 23,000 fans in attendance as their 12th man, a force that pushed them forward when fatigue began to set in.
He thanked the Bergamo faithful for their unwavering support, both home and away, acknowledging that their passion is a fundamental part of what makes Atalanta a dangerous opponent in Europe.
As the celebrations subside, all attention turns to the Champions League Round of 16 draw, scheduled for Friday, February 27. Atalanta finds themselves in elite company, awaiting a potential heavyweight clash against either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. For Scamacca, this is “the good part” of the competition, where the team gets to test their worth against the very best on the continent.
