Atalanta players dedicate Valencia win to coronavirus sufferers in Italy 🎥

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini dedicated his side’s Champions League last-16 victory against Valencia to those affected by coronavirus outbreak.

This browser does not support the video element.

Josip Ilicic scored four goals as the Italian side won 4-3 on the night to secure an 8-4 aggregate win that sends them through to the quarter-finals in what is the club’s first appearance in the competition.

Despite being a thrilling encounter, no fans were able to see it as the game was played behind closed at the Mestalla, with authorities across Europe scrambling to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

At the final whistle on Tuesday all the players held up a shirt to the cameras which had the message: “Bergamo, this is for you. Never give up!”

Gasperini hopes that the victory will provide some joy for those currently affected by the outbreak and pledged to celebrate the team's achievements properly when the situation has eased.

“We are very happy for what this result represents for a territory that is suffering so much," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"We know that many people followed us at home, who cannot go out to celebrate. But we will have time to do it in June at the end of the championship.

"We will have a big party for everything, also for this danger that we will defeat."