Ilicic, with help from Diakhaby, sends Atalanta into last eight

Josip Ilicic was the star of the show at the empty Mestalla as Atalanta cruised their way into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Slovenian scored four times to send Albert Celades' side crashing out of the competition. He scored a penalty in the second minute after a foul by Diakhaby before netting another spot kick just before half-time after Gameiro had drawn Valencia level in the 21st minute. Diakhaby was once again at fault for the second penalty and he was subbed at the interval. 

An open start to the second half so Gameiro punish a Palomino error and then Ferran Torres gave the home side a very outside chance of pulling off a miracle in the 67th minute, but four minutes later, Ilicic completed his hat-trick to end any chance of Valencia coming back into it. The striker then got his fourth eight minutes from time to seal yet another victory for Atalanta over Valencia. That said, most of the damage was done in the first leg as Valencia were forced to throw people forward. 

When the match began, Valencia needed three goals to progress. However, any hopes of them replicating Deportivo's feat over AC Milan back in 2004 went up in smoke inside two minutes when Diakhaby fouled Iilcic. He hit hit down the middle and Valencia required four for extra time. The home side tried to make the closed doors Mestalla more normal by playing recorded crowd chants over the speakers and in the ninth minute, they nearly levelled when Rodrigo forced Sportiello into a great save from nearly 40 yards. However, despite attacking, they were not very threatening. 

Then in the 21st minute, Gameiro made it 1-1. Djimsiti lost the ball to Rodrigo, his pass to Rodrigo was touched by the sliding Palomino, but the Frenchman got on the end of the loose ball to score. That goal actually spurred Gasperini's men into action and Gosens and Pasalic had opportunities. Papu Gomez then tried an ambitious chip before Rodrigo at the other end hit a curling shot wide. 

 

March 10, 2020

Just before half-time, disaster struck for Valencia. Ilicic let a throw-in bounce into the box and Diakhaby handled. The referee missed it initially, but he awarded the spot-kick after a VAR pitchside review. Ilicic sent Cillessen the wrong way from the spot and Valencia suddenly needed five in the second half. Guedes came on for Diakhaby in the second half, but it was too tall an order. 

Ferran Torres had an early effort while Freuler struck the bar for Atalanta, but then Gameiro restored parity once again. Palomino lost the ball and after a blocked shot, Ferran Torres on the far side sent in a cross which Gameiro headed in. Gameiro then hit wide a few minutes later and in the 67th minute, Valencia took the lead. A long pass saw keepert Sportiello run wildly out of his goal and Torres chipped it over the goalie. Celades' men needed three in the last 20 minutes, but it was not to be. 

Zapata went up the other end and Cillessen made a sensational stop with his right leg, but he could not prevent Atalanta scoring a minute later. On the counter, Ilicic ran down the middle, fed Zapata on his right, the ball back from the Colombian took a fortuitous deflection to Ilicic who fired in. Then eight minutes from time, Ilicic rounded off the night with another goal after quick passing between Zapata and Freuler in the build up. 

Atalanta played out time in the last 10 minutes and the Italians coasted to victory. It was always going to be very difficult for Valencia and even more so when it was confirmed that the match would be behind closed doors due to the Coronavirus. Then, when Atalanta netted a second minute penalty, the tie was as good as over. Atalanta's fairytale in the Champions League continues.