Josip Ilicic Nets Hat-Trick as Atalanta Continue UCL Fairytale With 8-4 Aggregate Win in Valencia

​Atalanta have booked their place in the quarter finals of the Champions League with an 8-4 aggregate scoreline against Valencia, where Josip Iličić scored the first Champions League hat-trick of his career to extend the club's fairytale in Europe this season.

Any chance of an impressive comeback was chalked off when Iličić was brought down inside the penalty area inside the opening two minutes, with the Slovenian slotting the ball down the middle of Jasper Cillessen's net.

Kevin Gameiro was able to pull one goal back with a smart finish just 15 minutes later, but Atalanta were given a second penalty before the halftime whistle due to a handball inside the area - Iličić again scored, restoring the club's four-goal lead.

Valencia centre-back Mouctar Diakhaby conceded both spot-kicks, and his torrid evening continued throughout the game, with poor positioning gifting Atalanta chances to extend their lead after the break.

Remo Freuler came close to adding a third on the night for Atalanta only to see his long-range effort crash off the crossbar, but instead, it was Valencia who scored next through a powerful header from Gameiro.

Ferran Torres put the hosts in front on the night with a stunning chip beyond Marco Sportiello, but Iličić ended any faint hopes of a historic comeback by completing his hat-trick with a powerful left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

The 32-year-old even scored a fourth goal before the full-time whistle was blown in Valencia, giving Atalanta a memorable and entertaining 4-3 win on the night to book their place in the quarter-final stage of the Champions League.

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