When Club Atletico Atalanta scored in the 89th minute at Stade Vélodrome, the entire French crowd fell silent. Not because of a spectacular goal — though Lazar Samardzic’s left-footed curler was pure art — but because of what came before it. Marseille players were still protesting a handball by Ederson, a moment referee Gianluca Rocchi had just signaled to review. And then, in the chaos, Atalanta broke. The ball found Samardzic. The net rippled. The result: 0-1. The shock: immense.
A Match Defined by Missed Chances and Timing
Marseille came into this match with an eight-game unbeaten home streak in European competition. They’d beaten Manchester United, drawn with RB Leipzig, and looked sharp in their last domestic outing — until last Saturday’s 1-2 loss to Sporting Clube de Portugal. But against Atalanta, they controlled the ball. 58% possession. 14 shots. Five on target. Yet they couldn’t find the back of the net.
The best chance came at 23 minutes when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 36, slipped past the offside trap. A through ball from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg sent him clean through. Marco Carnesecchi, Atalanta’s 25-year-old keeper, threw himself across goal and somehow got a fingertip on the shot. The ball clattered off the crossbar. The stadium roared — then held its breath.
Atalanta, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the break. Ademola Lookman had a goal disallowed at 69 minutes after Matteo Krstovic was offside earlier in the move. Charles De Ketelaere saw his penalty saved earlier in the half. Mason Greenwood’s free kick was smothered. Davide Zappacosta’s cross went wide from three yards out. It wasn’t pretty. But it was effective.
The Controversy That Changed Everything
Here’s the thing: Atalanta didn’t win because they were better. They won because they were ruthless. And Marseille? They were paralyzed by indecision.
With 92 seconds left, Mason Greenwood pulled the ball back near the byline. Ederson, the Atalanta fullback, intercepted it. As he turned, his arm brushed the ball. He fell. Marseille players immediately screamed for a penalty. The crowd rose. The referee raised his hand — not to blow his whistle, but to signal VAR. The replay booth lit up. The stadium waited.
And then, in that split second of hesitation, Atalanta launched a counter. Samardzic, subbed on in every Champions League game this season, sprinted into space. A pass. A curl. A finish into the far top corner. The goal stood. The penalty appeal? Forgotten.
"It’s a nightmare," said one Marseille fan, still in his seat, clutching his scarf. "They were about to give us the penalty. And then... they just let it go."
Historic Win for Atalanta, Crisis for Marseille
This was Atalanta’s first-ever win against a French side on French soil. Their record against French clubs in France? One win, two draws, one loss — now upgraded. It’s a milestone that echoes beyond the three points. Atalanta, often dismissed as a Serie A underdog, are now a genuine threat in the Champions League group stage.
They’ve kept eight clean sheets in their last 13 group stage matches since 2023/24. That’s elite defensive discipline. And Ivan Juric, their 48-year-old Croatian coach, didn’t just outmaneuver Roberto De Zerbi tactically — he out-coached him mentally. Reports say Juric had a heated exchange with Lookman after subbing him off, but the message was clear: stay compact. Stay patient. Wait for the mistake.
For Marseille, it’s a disaster. Their home form in Europe — once a fortress — is now in tatters. Eight unbeaten games? Gone. Four points from four matches? That puts them in danger of elimination. De Zerbi’s side looks disjointed. Aubameyang is still dangerous, but the midfield lacks control. The defense? Fragile.
What’s Next? A Crucial Week for Both Clubs
November 26, 2025, is a turning point. Marseille travel to Prague to face SK Slavia Praha, a team that just held Atalanta to a 1-1 draw. A loss here could end their Champions League hopes. Atalanta, meanwhile, host Sporting Clube de Portugal at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. A win? They’re all but guaranteed a top-two finish.
Samardzic, the 22-year-old German midfielder, is now the unlikely hero. Two goals as a substitute in this season’s Champions League. Both decisive. Both born from chaos. He didn’t start a single group stage match before this one. Now? He’s the man who broke Marseille’s heart.
Key Match Stats: Marseille vs Atalanta
- Possession: Marseille 58% - Atalanta 42%
- Shots: Marseille 14 (5 on target) - Atalanta 9 (3 on target)
- Corners: Marseille 7 - Atalanta 3
- Clearances: Marseille 19 - Atalanta 26
- Pass accuracy: Marseille 84% - Atalanta 87%
- Atalanta’s clean sheets in last 13 UCL group games: 8
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the penalty appeal not given despite Ederson’s handball?
Referee Gianluca Rocchi had signaled for VAR review, but the goal was scored before the decision was confirmed. Under current UCL rules, if play continues and a goal is scored during a pending VAR review, the goal stands unless the incident is deemed a clear and obvious error — which the officials didn’t determine. The handball was marginal, and the goal’s timing exploited a procedural gray area.
How significant is Atalanta’s win against a French club on French soil?
This was Atalanta’s first-ever victory over a French team in France. In their previous four encounters on French soil, they’d drawn twice and lost twice. Beating Marseille — a club with a strong European pedigree — in such dramatic fashion signals a new level of confidence and tactical maturity for the Bergamo side in away Champions League fixtures.
What does this result mean for Marseille’s Champions League qualification chances?
Marseille now has just four points from four matches, placing them third in Group C. With Sporting CP and Atalanta on seven points, Marseille must win both remaining games and hope for other results to go their way. A loss to Slavia Praha on November 26 would effectively end their knockout stage hopes.
Who is Lazar Samardzic, and why is he so important to Atalanta now?
Samardzic, 22, is a German midfielder who has started zero Champions League games this season — but has been subbed on in all four. He’s scored twice as a substitute: one in the 2-1 win over Bursaspor, and now this winner against Marseille. His work rate, positioning, and composure off the bench have made him Atalanta’s secret weapon — a player who thrives in chaos and capitalizes on defensive lapses.
Is this a sign that Atalanta can compete with Europe’s elite?
Absolutely. Atalanta’s defensive discipline, tactical flexibility, and ability to win tight games against top-tier opposition — including this win over a French giant — show they’re no longer just a Serie A surprise. With Ivan Juric at the helm and players like Samardzic stepping up, they’re building a reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous counter-attacking teams.
Kiran Meher
November 10, 2025 AT 07:35One moment of chaos and everything changes
Atalanta didn't dominate but they killed it when it mattered
Samardzic is the definition of a super sub
That goal wasn't luck it was instinct
I'm telling you this team has heart
They don't need to control the ball to win
They just need to wait and strike
And boy did they strike
Every time I think they're out of it they find a way
This is football at its purest
No fancy stats no possession worship
Just pure nerve and timing
Someone needs to make a documentary about this team
They're the underdog story we all need right now
Tejas Bhosale
November 10, 2025 AT 19:55Referee signals review but play continues
That's the algorithmic arbitrage of modern football
Atalanta exploited the latency window
Edge case optimization at its finest
They didn't score on a mistake they scored on a system failure
Marseille played the game
Atalanta played the rulebook
It's not cheating it's evolutionary adaptation
Coaching isn't about formations anymore
It's about exploiting procedural gray zones
Juric didn't outcoach De Zerbi
He outsmarted the entire UEFA compliance architecture
Asish Barman
November 11, 2025 AT 01:50That's not bad luck thats bad football
And dont even get me started on that handball
Edersons arm wasnt even close to the ball
It was more like a breeze brushed his sleeve
And now they're crying about it
Like a kid who lost his ice cream
Atalanta played smart
They knew Marseille would crack
And they waited
Thats not luck thats psychology
Abhishek Sarkar
November 12, 2025 AT 01:32They always do this
Some hidden hand behind the scenes
First they let the home team dominate then they create a fake controversy
Then they score on the chaos
How many times has this happened
Referees are paid to make sure certain teams win
Look at the history
Every time Atalanta plays abroad they get these miraculous breaks
And the media calls it luck
Its not luck its orchestration
Someone is pulling strings in UEFA
And Marseille was the sacrifice
They wanted a new underdog story
So they gave it to them
But the truth is out there
And soon the world will see
Niharika Malhotra
November 12, 2025 AT 16:38Atalanta didn't have the talent on paper
But they had something deeper
They had belief
And that's what makes champions
Not just skill but spirit
Samardzic didn't start a single game
But he was ready
Not just physically but mentally
And that's the lesson for all of us
Success isn't about being chosen first
It's about being ready when your moment comes
Even if it's the 89th minute
Even if the whole world is screaming for something else
Stay calm
Stay focused
And when your chance comes
Don't just take it
Own it
Baldev Patwari
November 14, 2025 AT 16:33They had like 3 shots total
And Marseille had 14
And now they're calling it tactical genius
Whats next
They'll say the ball was cursed
Samardzic is a glorified benchwarmer
And this win means nothing
They're not elite
They're just lucky
And the media is falling for it
Like a bunch of suckers
Atalanta is the new Leicester
But without the actual talent
Just a bunch of lucky bounces
harshita kumari
November 16, 2025 AT 06:15They knew the VAR would delay
They rehearsed the counter
They knew Ederson would get caught
They knew the ref would hesitate
They knew the crowd would scream
They knew the whole stadium would freeze
And they used it
They used the chaos
They used the noise
They used the fear
It wasn't a goal
It was a psychological operation
And Marseille fell right into it
They're not just a team
They're a machine
Designed to exploit hesitation
And the ref
He was part of it too
He was told to delay
They've been doing this for years
And no one sees it
But I do
SIVA K P
November 17, 2025 AT 23:36They had 42% possession
And you think that's a victory
What are you even watching
They got lucky once
Big deal
They're not elite
They're just good at being in the right place at the right time
And Marseille let them get away with it
They're soft
They're weak
They're embarrassed
And now you're all crying about how beautiful it was
It was a fluke
And you're all idiots for celebrating it
Neelam Khan
November 18, 2025 AT 12:34Because moments like this remind me that magic still exists
Samardzic didn't have a single start this season
But he was the one who stepped up
Not because he was the best
But because he believed
And that's the thing about underdogs
They don't need to be the strongest
They just need to be the most ready
And Atalanta
They were ready
Not just with their feet
But with their hearts
And that's the kind of football that changes lives
Not just the score
But the way we see ourselves
Jitender j Jitender
November 20, 2025 AT 04:26Atalanta had 3 shots on target
And scored 1
Marseille had 5 on target
And scored 0
That's not just luck
That's a systemic advantage in shot conversion
It's the difference between a possession-based model and a counter-pressing model
Atalanta's xG per shot was 0.33
Marseille's was 0.12
They didn't win because they were better
They won because they were more lethal
And Juric's system maximizes that lethality
It's not about volume
It's about precision
And that's why they're dangerous
Jitendra Singh
November 22, 2025 AT 03:15They don't play football
They play games
They wait for mistakes
They wait for VAR
They wait for chaos
And then they pounce
It's not football
It's opportunism
And Marseille
They didn't lose because they were worse
They lost because they played like gentlemen
While Atalanta played like thieves
And now the media calls it genius
It's not genius
It's a disgrace
And the fact that people celebrate this
Shows how low the standard has fallen
VENKATESAN.J VENKAT
November 23, 2025 AT 23:15And everyone is pretending it's beautiful
That handball
It was clear
It was intentional
And the ref didn't even give it
Because he was told not to
Atalanta has been doing this for years
They get the breaks
They get the calls
They get the lucky bounces
And the media calls it grit
It's not grit
It's corruption
And Marseille
They were robbed
And no one cares
Because they're not the story
They're just the victims
Amiya Ranjan
November 24, 2025 AT 21:34Atalanta always gets the benefit of the doubt
They're the underdog
So they get the calls
They get the breaks
They get the sympathy
And Marseille
They're the big club
So they get the blame
It's always like this
When the little guy wins
Everyone cheers
But when the big guy loses
Everyone says it's deserved
It's not fair
And it's not football
It's a narrative
And we're all just actors in it
vamsi Krishna
November 24, 2025 AT 23:43That's not football thats a glitch
And Samardzic
Who even is he
Never heard of him before
Now he's the hero
Because he got lucky once
And Marseille
They had 14 shots
14!
And still lost
That's not a match
That's a glitch in the matrix
Someone needs to fix this
Football is supposed to be about skill
Not luck
And this is why the game is dying
Narendra chourasia
November 26, 2025 AT 07:57It's not about the game anymore!
It's about VAR!
It's about delays!
It's about chaos!
It's about referees being manipulated!
Atalanta didn't win!
They exploited a system designed to fail!
That handball was CLEAR!
And the fact that the goal stood is a crime!
And now everyone is pretending it's beautiful!
It's not beautiful!
It's a farce!
And Marseille?
They were robbed!
And no one cares!
Because they're not the story!
They're just the punchline!
And I'm sick of it!
Football is dead!
Mohit Parjapat
November 27, 2025 AT 07:10They didn't play football
They played assassination
Stabbed Marseille in the back with a goal
While the ref was busy checking his phone
And now they're calling it art?
That's not art
That's a crime scene
And Marseille? They didn't lose
They were murdered
By a team that doesn't believe in fair play
Just opportunism
And the worst part?
Everyone is clapping
Like this is normal
Like this is football
It's not
It's a circus
And we're all just clowns
Sumit singh
November 27, 2025 AT 23:38It's not about the game
It's about the narrative
Atalanta is the underdog
So they get the benefit of the doubt
They get the calls
They get the sympathy
And Marseille? They're the big club
So they get the blame
It's not about who played better
It's about who fits the story
And this story? It's a lie
And we're all just buying it
fathima muskan
November 29, 2025 AT 23:06They knew the VAR would take 30 seconds
They knew the crowd would scream
They knew the ref would hesitate
So they rehearsed the counter
Samardzic didn't just run
He ran on a script
And the ball? It was passed on cue
Not by accident
By design
And now they're calling it magic
It's not magic
It's a heist
And the worst part?
No one even noticed
They're all too busy cheering
For the thieves
Devi Trias
December 1, 2025 AT 08:12Laura Hordern
December 2, 2025 AT 03:28I just watched the goal replay like 10 times
That was pure cinema
Not just the goal
But the silence after
The way the whole stadium just froze
Like someone turned off the sound
And then BAM
Net ripples
That's the kind of moment that makes you believe in football again
Samardzic
He didn't even start
But he was the one who changed everything
And Marseille?
They looked like they were playing in slow motion
Like they couldn't believe it was happening
That's football
That's magic
And I'm so glad I saw it