Completely improbable! Predicting that Atalanta Bergamo and RB Leipzig would both qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals a few months ago was utopian, if not insane.
And yet, Italians and Germans have the place they deserve in this European roller coaster, after the return matches of the round of 16 played on Tuesday, March 10. The Atalanta honored their image as an offensive team by winning 4-3 in Valencia, after having already talked about the powder to go, three weeks ago (4-1). And RB Leipzig confirmed their success won in the first leg in England (1-0) against the team coached by José Mourinho by winning this time at home 3-0.
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"Granny" Festival
The "Granny" strikes four times: in an empty stadium, Atalanta Bergamo, who is discovering the Champions League this season, obtained a historic qualification for the quarter-finals of the competition, thanks to a quadruple from Josip Ilicic, the Slovenian striker nicknamed "The granny" because of its arched size and its propensity to always complain.
Ilicic, figurehead of the attractive Lombard attack, signed his first quadruple in C1, with two penalties (3e, 43e), a nice cross strike (71e), and another brushed from the left in full skylight (81e). He was bombed fifth best scorer in the competition, tied with, among others, Kylian Mbappé with five achievements.
This season, the 32-year-old Bergamo striker has accumulated 21 goals, 9 assists in 29 games. "I am like wine. The older I get, the better I am. ", summed up in January the Slovenian, who therefore waited his thirties to play the best football of his life.
Lunar atmosphere
In a lunar atmosphere, at the center of a Mestalla stadium (55,000 seats) emptied of its supporters due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus, Ilicic quickly plunged Atalanta back into his dream of the first leg. The French central defender of Valence Mouctar Diakhaby, on the contrary, lived a nightmare evening: it was he who offered the penalty of the first Italian goal, by hanging the left foot of the same Ilicic in the area after only 1 minute and 24 seconds of play… Then he went on with a second penalty, with one hand in the area reviewed on video, transformed by the inevitable Ilicic. The worst start possible for Valencia, who had already gone back three goals before kickoff.
But the Valencian supporters, massed at the gates of the stadium despite the camera and which could be heard even on the lawn, pushed to allow the French Kevin Gameiro to find twice the way to the goal, first after an error from Argentine defender José Luis Palomino (41e), then head (50e). Two realizations however quite insufficient, like the pretty lob of Ferran Torres (67e), to prevent the magical journey of the"Intruder" Italian to continue among the giants.
Ruthless Leipzig
No feat for Tottenham and José Mourinho: Leipzig quickly killed the relative suspense with a 3-0 success which allows the Saxons to invite themselves, like Atalanta, for the first time in the quarterfinals of the League of champions.
How long will José Mourinho be able to capitalize on his reputation and track record? With the elimination of Spurs on Tuesday in Leipzig, the Portuguese coach now remains on a personal basis on four consecutive road trips in the round of 16 of C1.
Without their attacking stars Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, on the sidelines for weeks, or their Dutch rookie Steven Bergwijn injured on Saturday, the Spurs were cold picked in Germany by a goal by Roten Bullen captain Marcel Sabitzer as soon as the 10e minute. The fleeing effect and rebound of the strike from the Austrian playmaker, served at the surface by Timo Werner, deceived London goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was too soft in his hand.
Still at fault on the goal of the break of the Germans, a header from Sabitzer – author of a double – at the far post (21e), the French world champion, was not helped by the missed interception of his right side Serge Aurier who offered his wide open corridor to the piston of Leipzig, Angeliño.
Mourinho alone facing his statistics
Without reaction against the Germans, pushed by their public, Tottenham was punished by a last goal from incoming Emil Forsberg at the end of the match (87e). And the 2019 Champions League finalist may not be enjoying the C1 anytime soon: not really invigorated by the arrival of Mourinho in late November, the Spurs are seven points behind Chelsea, fourth, in the English league.
Mourinho will therefore be brought back to his statistics: at 57, his last victory in the Champions League now dates back ten years, in 2019 with Inter Milan (after his 2004 triumph with FC Porto). However, we must credit his victory in the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017.
For Leipzig, on the other hand, the adventure in unknown land continues. The team has stalled a bit in the league since January, but youth and confidence are on their side.
