ATALANTA cantered into the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Valencia in a one-sided last-16 tie thanks to FOUR goals from Josip Ilicic.
The Serie A side, leading 4-1 from the first-leg in Italy, booked their spot in the last-eight with a thrilling 4-3 win at the Mestalla.
The Mestalla was empty except for a statue of a fan for Valencia’s Champions League clash with AtalantaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Atalanta stormed through to the quarter-finals behind closed doorsCredit: Getty
But only one supporter was there to see it, due to fears surrounding coronavirus – a statue of former Valencia superfan Vicente Navarro Aparicio.
All football matches in Spain have been forced to be played behind closed doors for the next two weeks over worries of spreading the killer bug.
The LaLiga giants honoured the late fan last summer after he passed away two years ago by ensuring no-one else would ever sit in his seat – No164 on row 15 of the Tribuna Central section of the Mestalla.
The incredible fan followed Valencia – home and away – throughout his career, even after going blind aged 54.
Fittingly, he was there for Tuesday night’s Champions League game, all by himself.
But it wasn’t the result the Spaniards wanted as they slumped to another big defeat against Atalanta.
The visitors dedicated their win to the city of Bergamo, which has been badly affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Josip Ilicic all but killed off the already one-sided tie with a third-minute penalty to make it 5-1 on aggregate – and chalk off Valencia’s away goal.
Kevin Gameiro sparked the faintest of hopes of a stunning comeback with an equaliser on 21 minutes.
But Ilicic scored his second – also from the penalty spot – to kill off any dreams the LaLiga side may have had.
Gameiro ensured his personal battle with Ilicic was less one-sided though, as he grabbed his second after the break.
Ferran Torres briefly gave the Spaniards the lead with a beautiful lob from outside the box.
But Ilicic grabbed his hat-trick as he fired past Jasper Cillessen to make it 3-3, before grabbing his fourth just ten minutes later.
Atalanta ultimately ran out 8-4 winners on aggregate in an astonishing tie.
Despite being banned from the stadium, Valencia fans did their best to create an atmosphere at the Mestalla.
Fans threw flares and tried to create an atmosphere from outsideCredit: AP:Associated Press
Supporters flocked to the stadium despite the ban due to coronavirus fearsCredit: AP:Associated Press
Police were forced to intervene after things got a little too heatedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Hoards of supporters turned up before the game to welcome the team bus with scarves and flares.
Police were forced to intervene at one stage as things got a little too heated.
But their help proved of little use to Valencia as they crashed out of Europe and missed their chance to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2006-07.
Just the one supporter was allowed inside – a statue of a former fanCredit: Reuters
Fans were forced to stay outside of the stadium but were vocal in their support ahead of the gameCredit: Reuters
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
