Ilicic masterclass guides Atalanta past Valencia in UEFA Champions League
Masterclass
Valencia (Spain), March 10, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Visiting Atalanta’s Josip Ilicic scored four goals in a stunning individual display to lead them to a 4-3 UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg win over Valencia on Tuesday.
The Italian side thus completed an 8-4 aggregate victory, at an empty Mestalla stadium.
The Spanish side’s stadium was shut to supporters as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, with the visitors coming from a high-risk zone in the north of Italy.
Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby conceded two penalty kicks in the first half, both converted by Ilicic, either side of Kevin Gameiro’s equaliser.
Gameiro headed home a second and Ferran Torres put Valencia ahead on the night.
But Slovenian playmaker Ilicic completed his hat-trick and then curled in a sumptuous fourth as his team reached the quarter-finals.(Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)