Atalanta’s dream Champions League debut ends in heartbreak

A few months ago the people of Lombardy, in which Bergamo is situated, were only allowed to leave their houses for essentials such as food or health emergencies.

Fans are still not allowed into the stadium — although some Atalanta supporters had made the trip to Lisbon — but approximately 300 of them were gathered at Edoné, a bar and a cultural space near the team’s stadium.

In the balmy evening and under picturesque fairy lights, they wildly celebrated Pašalić’s goal, applauded every save and good move from their players, and grasped their heads in shock and groaned at the late heartbreak.

“Atalanta already won and the city already won because five months ago, when Atalanta beat Valencia and we were in our darkest days, a night like tonight looked like impossible back then because we were just feeling the worst moment, fear for our best friends, fear for ourselves, fear for our family,” said 38-year-old Franz Barcella, an Atalanta season ticket holder and the managing partner at Edoné.

“And in those days, a night, a normal summer night of drinking, of watching a game or watching a movie seemed just like impossible for us in Bergamo. So already being here with our friends, having a pizza, hugging, laughing … it feels like a dream, it feels like joy back again.”

Atalanta reached the final eight with an 8-4 aggregate victory over Valencia in the round of 16. The first leg took place on Feb. 19 in Milan in a match dubbed “Game Zero” because of the spread of the disease that followed both in northern Italy and in Spain.

Images of a convoy of military trucks driving coffins out of the city of Bergamo because the crematorium couldn’t keep up were beamed around the world.

“Tonight is not about a quarterfinal of a Champions League. For us it’s much more,” Barcella added.

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