Ilicic masterclass guides Atalanta past Valencia in UEFA Champions League

Valencia (Spain) – 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.

NYON, SWITZERLAND – July 22: A general view of the trophy ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2019/20 Third Qualifying Round draw at the UEFA headquarters, The House of European Football on July 22, 2019 in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Harold Cunningham – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)UEFA Champions League

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.

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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)