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Football sometimes gifts us scenes that seem straight out of an epic movie, and what happened last night at the New Balance Arena was the perfect example. In a high-voltage clash between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund, Montenegrin forward Nikola Krstović became the accidental hero of the day. What began as a desperate quest to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit ended with the striker sporting an impressive bloodied bandage, a symbol of a Champions League round of 16 qualification that is now part of the history of the Bergamo club.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions in which "La Dea" managed to go 3-0 up thanks to goals from Scamacca, Zappacosta, and Pašalić, but a goal from Adeyemi for Dortmund once again left the Italians out due to the aggregate score. The tension was at its peak, and the game seemed destined for a cruel end for the locals, until the 98th minute when a play occurred that stopped the hearts of the fans. A contested ball in the German area became the scene of a brutal clash that would change the fate of the tie.
Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini, in a desperate attempt to clear, stretched his leg with absolute recklessness and struck Krstović directly on the forehead with his studs. The image was shocking: the Montenegrin forward collapsed as blood began to flow abundantly, covering his face within seconds. It was one of those moments where the bravery of the "9" prevailed over the instinct for self-preservation, putting his head where others wouldn't dare to put even a foot.
After a VAR review, referee José María Sánchez Martínez had no doubts: he awarded a penalty and showed a second yellow to Bensebaini. With Krstović being attended to by medical services and sporting a makeshift bandage, Lazar Samardžić took on the responsibility and slotted the ball into the top corner, securing the final 4-1 (4-3 on aggregate). The stadium erupted in collective delirium, witnessing their team seal the passage in the most agonizing and heroic way possible.
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At the end of the match, the image of Krstović celebrating with his head fully bandaged and his shirt stained with blood went viral within minutes. The player himself later shared on social media photos of the deep wound and the stitches received, accompanied by a message of pride for the sacrifice made. His teammates were quick to nickname him "the warrior of Bergamo," encapsulating in a single play the spirit of an Atalanta that never gives up and is now awaiting their next European opponent.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.