“Cruelty and miracles, it’s the Champions League,” read the headline in Gazzetta dello Sport. “But we’re among Europe’s greats.” Just. And if the definition of great is a loose one, Italy had grounds to be grateful for play-off drama in Bergamo. Not for the last time, they will hope, given that the Azzurri face Northern Ireland there next month, seeking to preserve their World Cup hopes.
A great footballing nation’s Champions League campaign almost ended in February. Instead, Atalanta performed their feat of escapology, losing the first leg 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund, winning the second 4-1, courtesy of Lazar Samardzic’s 98th-minute penalty.
