Bergamaschi qualified against Borussia Dortmund and the Bianconeri were out after an epic match against Galatasaray: Wednesday’s Champions League redeems the image of Italian football.
A crazy and unforgettable night, so full of emotions that it is difficult to catalog them all. Atalanta writes a page of history by overturning Borussia Dortmund and gaining an unexpected qualification for the round of 16. Juventus is at times epic and moving, as well as superior to Galatasaray, but returns home because it is forced once again to play with a numerical inferiority.
The Bianconeri scream in anger as has happened too often in this extremely unfortunate part of the season in their relationship with the referees. This time Chiellini and the club chose foil after using the club at San Siro and Spalletti remained silent. The whistles of the mediocre Portuguese Pinheiro prevented a happy ending to a match in which Juventus put all their energy at their disposal.
An effort that the Bianconeri risk paying for on Sunday in the play-off for the next Champions League at the Olimpico against Roma, a crossroads of the season. There must be no regrets, however, because in the pain of elimination at the hands of the Turks, a team was born on which to graft the future. If Chiellini as manager told the truth, the man chosen is Luciano Spalletti and the ferocity with which he attacked the Turks on the night at the Stadium says that it was the right choice.
We will have to ask ourselves why Italian football continues to weigh so little at a European level. Juventus were certainly the underdogs against Galatasaray while Atalanta had VAR to thank, given that the on-field referee had missed a sensational penalty when time had practically expired: for him, the copious blood that came out of Krstović’s forehead wasn’t even enough.
The people of Bergamo deserve a separate chapter. Raise your hand if you thought it was possible to overturn the double disadvantage from the first leg against a big team like Borussia Dortmund; Palladino cooked a starred dish and served it to the Germans and the whole of Europe. At times he recalled Atalanta being pushed by Gasperini to win the Europa League and that’s the best possible compliment.
Now the ballot box will put the Nerazzurri on the route of Arsenal or Bayern Munich. Objectively it is an impossible draw, but even if it were, the emotions given by the comeback against the Westphalian yellows are something priceless that Italian football must treasure. Everyone’s thanks go to Atalanta and Juventus: after the shock of Inter’s counter-performance against Bodo Glimt there was a need to raise our heads again.
