Daijiworld Media Network - Berlin
Berlin, Feb 26: Borussia Dortmund saw their UEFA Champions League campaign take a dramatic turn as they squandered a 2-0 aggregate lead to suffer a 4-1 defeat against Atalanta BC, crashing out 4-3 on aggregate.
BVB entered the decisive clash with a comfortable cushion but unravelled under pressure as the Serie A side mounted a stunning comeback. The emphatic victory propelled Atalanta into the Round of 16, keeping their European dream alive.
In another key fixture, Bayer Leverkusen secured a 2-0 aggregate win over Olympiacos F.C. to progress further in the competition.
Either Atalanta or Leverkusen will now face German giants Bayern Munich in what promises to be a high-voltage Round of 16 encounter.
Teams qualified so far:
• Arsenal F.C.
• Bayern Munich
• Liverpool F.C.
• Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
• FC Barcelona
• Chelsea F.C.
• Sporting CP
• Manchester City F.C.
• Atlético Madrid
• Newcastle United F.C.
• Bayer Leverkusen
• FK Bodø/Glimt
• Atalanta BC
For Dortmund, the crushing elimination comes at a difficult time as they now turn their focus to the much-anticipated Der Klassiker clash against Bayern Munich this weekend, hoping to bounce back from European disappointment.