Atalanta Overpowers Valencia in Champions League Last 16 First Leg

The win puts Atalanta on the verge of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals.

MILAN (AP) – Hans Hateboer scored twice as Atalanta beat Valencia 4-1 Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League's round of 16, putting the Italian team on the verge of a quarterfinal spot in its first season in the competition.

Roughly a third of the population of the small town of Bergamo was present at Milan's San Siro stadium to see Hateboer, Josip Ilicic and Remo Freuler score for Atalanta.

Substitute Denis Cheryshev scored a consolation goal for Valencia to give the Spanish team a glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg on March 10.

Leipzig, another team playing in the knockout stages for the first time, won 1-0 at Tottenham in Wednesday's other Champions League match.

Atalanta qualified for Europe's top competition for the first time after a surprise third-place finish in Serie A last season. And it progressed to the knockout stages despite losing its first three matches in the competition.

It is playing its home matches at San Siro as its own stadium didn't meet UEFA requirements. Bergamo has a population of approximately 122,000 and more than 40,000 had made the 60-kilometer journey.

Atalanta was forced into a late change as defender Berat Djimsiti picked up a knock during the warmup and had to be replaced in the starting lineup by Mattia Caldara.

The home side started brightly and Alejandro ''Papu'' Gomez sent a free kick narrowly over before Mario Pasalic forced a smart stop from Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.

Atalanta broke the deadlock in the 16th minute when Hateboer slid in at the back post to turn in Gomez's cross from the left.

¡Gooooool goooool goool del Atalanta! 🇮🇹

Hateboer se encargó de firmar una gran jugada colectiva por parte de los italianos 👏@Atalanta_BC 1-0 @valenciacf #UCL I #GoAtalantaGo I #AmuntValencia
🔴Disfruta en vivo: https://t.co/0BoDgGtcuI 👀 pic.twitter.com/o5ZMg5p9H4

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) February 19, 2020

Robin Gosens hit the side netting shortly afterward before Valencia got into the match and almost leveled on the half-hour mark following a quickly-taken free kick, but Ferran Torres' effort crashed off the right post.

Valencia went close again when Goncalo Guedes' cross-shot flew past Eliaquim Mangala sliding in at the far post.

But Atalanta doubled its lead three minutes from the break as Ilicic held off two defenders before firing into the top left corner.

Atalanta doubles its lead! Josip Ilicic delivers a stunner to make it 2-0

(via @brlive) https://t.co/OhdvnEKrSk

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 19, 2020

Atalanta dominated from the restart and Freuler extended his side's lead in the 57th, curling a spectacular effort into the top right corner.

Apaguen la luces y vámonos ¡Qué goooolazo! 🔥

Freuler colgó la pelota del ángulo y el Atalanta está sacando una muy cómoda ventaja 🇮🇹@Atalanta_BC 3-0 @valenciacf #UCL I #GoAtalantaGo I #AmuntValencia
🔴Disfruta en vivo: https://t.co/0BoDgGtcuI 👀 pic.twitter.com/nXvhqZhcYx

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) February 19, 2020

The noise in the stadium was ramped up even more five minutes later when Hateboer ran almost half the length of the pitch before shooting past Domenech.

¡Lluvia de goles en Italia! 🇮🇹

Gol polémico que fue avalado por el VAR ¿qué dicen, gol o no? 🤔@Atalanta_BC 4-0 @valenciacf #UCL I #GoAtalantaGo I #AmuntValencia
🔴Disfruta en vivo: https://t.co/0BoDgGtcuI 👀 pic.twitter.com/FWBnPDVyKd

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) February 19, 2020

Cheryshev replaced Guedes in the 64th and pulled one back for Valencia two minutes later, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner to give the Spanish side a glimmer of hope.