Atalanta returned home to a heroes' welcome with 2,000 fans braving bitter cold in northern Italy after the Bergamo team reached the Champions League last 16 in their debut campaign despite losing first three matches.
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini hailed a "victory for Italian football" after joining Serie A rivals Juventus and Napoli in the knockout rounds, with Inter Milan the only absentee after losing 2-1 to Barcelona at the San Siro on Tuesday.
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The team greeted fans on board an open-top bus at Bergamo airport in the early hours of Thursday morning, amid fireworks, singing and banners, following what the Italian press hailed a "miracle" comeback.
Apart from the video above edited by ESPN, Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon also posted a video showing the dramatic scene in the airport, which you can watch below.
A twitter comment says: "When you end up doing the impossible, fans do the impossible too." And another joked: "1st time someone's gonna play a last 16 game at San Siro in 6 years and it's Atalanta."
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Atalanta, a club with a 112-year history, had to wait until their fourth group game to earn their first point in a draw against Manchester City, before sealing their berth with a 3-0 win away to Shakhtar Donetsk.
"It's a victory for Bergamo, for all of Atalanta, from the fans to the management to the players and the staff," said Gasperini, who danced with his players in the dressing room after the historic victory. You can also watch the hilarious video below.
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JamesWalker
3318
If Atlanta matches played in UCL group stages was a movie, it would be titled 'Neva give up'.π
Toblana
1002
Man Utd fans jam in to Manchester airport to celebrate UEL qualification ππ
AG7F
884
Great Passion for a Great Club
PaarthBakshi
785
i remeber the olden days
fidbknr
470
It's really amazing what Atalanta did. When they lost the first 3 games in UCL ,I was shocked and thought they were only good in Serie A. But I was asking myself how a team that beat the likes of Juventus comfortably could fail to beat teams like Dinamo Zagreb. I knew they were out after losing the 3 game. But surprise, surprise, surprise. They are thru to the next round...teams like Arsenal, Man U are not.
ishti
402
They thoroughly deserved this. Lost first three games. Just one point after Four games. Then went on to qualify for knock out stages of CL in their first ever attempt. Kudos to them.
Yoabdklz
264
This are the kind of team worth supporting... I can feel how joyous they are. Better than a much spending club... Most of the fans of spending club won't understand the atmosphere... (if you know what i mean)
Anthonyrae5
240
What a proud moment! I wish soon recovery to Zapata, one of the most underrated striker in the world. I am his big fan. All the best Atalanta!
SAVIOLA14
176
that's a good spirit of support to do more football is unpredictable,who knows they might turn out to be the new Ajax team that eliminated R/Madrid n Juve last season I wish them well anyway
SingamFootball
10
the day the whole world witnessed Atalanta became Inter Milan π