Despite starting well, Eintracht Frankfurt came unravelled in the second half as Jonathan Burkardt left the pitch injured and Atalanta scored three quick-fire goals.
Frankfurt 0-3 Atalanta
Goals: 0-1 Lookman 60’ (assist: De Ketelaere), 0-2 Éderson 62' (assist: Lookman), 0-3 De Ketelaere 65'
Frankfurt created their first real chance after 11 minutes when Nnamdi Collins was allowed to break down the right before putting a low cross into the path of Farès Chaïbi. However, his effort was too central and easy for Marco Carnesecchi to save.
The hosts continued to press as first Robin Koch and then Collins both came close via headers, but Atalanta soon started to make more of their counter-attack opportunities. Gianluca Scamacca utilised his size to bring others into play, leading to two huge chances for the visitors in the space of a minute. First, Ademola Lookman rolled his man in the box superbly before firing against the right-hand post. Then, just barely 30 seconds later, Scamacca fired a shot against the same post after a mix-up in the Frankfurt penalty area.
Mario Götze and Burkardt then had a half chance each for the hosts, but both shots were blocked. In the end, the Eagles could consider themselves somewhat lucky to be level at the break.
Burkardt was kept quiet for much of the first half as he was forced to battle for space against Atalanta's three centre-backs. - IMAGO/Patrick Scheiber
Frankfurt started the second half brightly when Nathaniel Brown found Burkardt in the box, but the striker’s shot was well blocked by Isak Hien at the last moment.
Burkardt was then forced off after 59 minutes with injury, and the tide firmly tipped in Atalanta’s favour. First, ex-RB Leipzig forward Lookman fired home when completely unmarked from a Charles De Ketelaere cross at the back post.
Just two minutes later, Lookman turned provider as he fed Éderson in the box, before the midfielder calmly poked home for 2-0.
Ademola Lookman opened the scoring for Atalanta after being allowed too much space at the back post. - IMAGO/Jan Huebner
De Ketelaere rounded off the triple salvo three minutes after that, reacting quickest to hammer home from a rebound after Scamacca had seen his shot saved.
Frankfurt never really recovered from the goals as the game rather settled down for the final 20 minutes, with much of the remaining chances being long shots.
The result is a humbling one for Frankfurt that sees them drop to 28th in the 36-team table, with three rounds of league-phase fixtures remaining.
Match stats
- This was the first UEFA competition meeting between Frankfurt and Atalanta.
- Burkardt has scored twice on three separate occasions for Frankfurt this season, including in the 5-1 win over Galatasaray.
- The Eagles have now failed to score in their last five UEFA competition meetings with Italian clubs, since a 1-0 victory at Inter Milan in the last 16 of the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League.
- Atalanta managed a third straight victory over Bundesliga opposition, following a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 Europa League final and a 2-0 triumph at Stuttgart in the Champions League last term.
- They have now lost only two of their last 19 UEFA competition matches against German opposition (W11, D6).
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Zetterer - Collins, Koch (c), Theate, Brown – Dahoud (Skhiri 69’), Chaïbi – Dōan (Buta 78’), Götze (Batshuayi 69’), Knauff (Wahi 78’) – Burkardt (Bahoya 59’)
Unused subs: Grahl, Santos, Amenda, Højlund, Kristensen, Chandler, Dills
Out: Uzun (hamstring), Larsson (muscle)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller
Atalanta: Carnesecchi – Djimsiti (Kolašinac 74’), Hien, Kossounou - Bellanova, De Roon (c), Éderson (Musah 69’), Zappacosta (Zalewski 69’) - De Ketelaere, Lookman (Sulemana 82’) – Scamacca (Krstović 69’)
Unused subs: Sportiello, Pašalić, Samardžić, Brescianini, Bernasconi, Ahanor, Maldini
Out: Bakker (knee), Scalvini (adductor)
Coach: Raffaele Palladino
As it happened!
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Full-time: Frankfurt 0-3 Atalanta
In the end, Atalanta rather cantered to victory. A five-minute burst of three goals left Frankfurt reeling, and they never really recovered. To make matters worse, Burkardt was forced off the pitch with injury shortly before the Atalanta goals.
© KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
Full-time
Bahoya tries his luck
The Frenchman has a go from range, but his shot is easy to save.
Close
Krstović flicks an effort goalwards from a cross, but it is easy enough for Zetterer.
Added time
There will be three minutes of added time.
Atalanta remain threatening
Frankfurt have had more of the ball in the last few minutes, but there is certainly the feeling that Atalanta could create another dangerous chance. De Roon has a pop after a loose ball falls to him from a corner, but his effort is wild.
Better from Frankfurt
Wahi gets in behind, but his shot is easy for Carnesecchi.
Another opportunity
Lookman again has space to burst into the box, but this time his effort is saved.
Lots of changes
Both sides have taken that third goal as an opportunity to make changes. Batshuayi and Skhiri are on to try and rescue Frankfurt.
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Make that a triple!
Frankfurt have absolutely fallen apart. Scamacca is found in the box, but his initial shot is saved by Zetterer. However, De Ketelaere is alert and hammers home the rebound.
© KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
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A quickfire double
And there is the second immediately. Atalanta have so much space to come forward with Lookman feeding Éderson, who pokes the ball past the onrushing Zetterer.
© IMAGO/Jan Huebner
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Lookman gives Atalanta the lead!
A ball to the back post from De Ketelaere finds Lookman at the back post, and he hammers home superbly.
© IMAGO/Jan Huebner
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Burkardt can't continue
This is bad news for Frankfurt. Burkardt is unable to continue and is replaced by Bahoya.
© IMAGO/Jan Huebner
Dangerous
A low cross threatens the Frankfurt goal, but Zetterer holds on to erase the danger.
Burkardt needs treatment
The Frankfurt striker is down, holding his leg. Hopefull,y it isn't serious.
Good chance
Frankfurt break the Atalanta press superbly. Brown is fed down the left before finding a good low cross into Burkardt. He shoots, but his effort is blocked at the last second by Hien.
Atalanta picking up where they left off
The visitors are continuing to press high to try and cause Frankfurt problems.
Back underway
The ball is moving again here in Frankfurt.
Kick-off!
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Half-time: Frankfurt 0-0 Atalanta
Both sides have had chances, but it is the visitors from Italy who deserve to be in front. They have allowed Frankfurt to press high before hitting them on the break with superb pace. This culminated in a double chance in the 35th minute when both Lookman and Scamacca hit the post in quick succession. Frankfurt have had a few half-chances themselves, but they will need to show a bit more intensity in the second half.
© IMAGO/Patrick Scheiber
Half-time
More danger
Yet again, Atalanta play the ball neatly down the right. Bellanova sends in a low cross that Lookman tries to flick goalwards, but his effort from close range is blocked behind. From the corner, Lookman again gets a shot away, but in the end, Frankfurt just about hold firm and clear.
Nearly an opening
Dōan does well to hold up the ball before feeding Burkardt. Burkardt gets in front of his man initially, although, in the end, he is muscled out of possession.
Almost a way through
The ball lands at Götze's feet in the box and he shoots, only to see his goal-bound shot superbly blocked. The rebound then falls to Burkardt, but his shot is also blocked.
Off the post (twice!)
Lookman rolls his man and fires a left-footed shot against the right-hand post. Then, just moments later, Scamacca pounces on a loose ball to hit the same post again. Frankfurt were living dangerously there.
Knauff almost gets there
A long ball over the top almost finds Knauff, but Carnesecchi rushes out to clear before Knauff can cause any problems.
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A real battle
A very tactical game so far. Both sides are looking to get forward quickly when they can, but both sides have largely cancelled each other out. The defences are on top.
© IMAGO/VITALII KLIUIEV
Almost danger
A good ball into Scamacca threatens to undo Frankfurt, but the defenders do well to recover before he can shoot. A few moments later, the striker almost gets on the end of a low cross, but again, luck is not on his side.
Zappacosta has a go
The wing-back runs inside and shoots, but his effort is very weak and easy for Zetterer.
A brief scuffle
Knauff and Hien clash off the ball, leading to a break in play. No cards are shown.
Good football
Frankfurt combine well around the Atalanta penalty area before Knauff finds Collins at the back post, but his header misses the target.
Both sides carrying a threat
Although there have been no further chances to speak of in the last few minutes, both sides remain a threat when opportunities to break arise. There is certainly space for forward runners.
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A tight start
Frankfurt have had the better chances so far, but Atalanta remain a threat on the break. Both sides have had 50% of the possession.
© IMAGO/Oliver Vogler
Koch comes close
The corner is played short before being whipped in towards Koch, but he can only head narrowly over the bar from a central position.
Dangerous delivery
Chaïbi breaks through the Atalanta press in midfield and whips in a delightful cross that needs turning behind for a corner.
Wild
An Atalanta corner is cleared only as far as Éderson. He shoots, but his effort is a long way off target.
Good chance
Frankfurt break down the right through Collins. He then pulls the ball back perfectly into the path of Chaïbi, but his shot is too central.
First shot
A bouncing ball from Dōan finds Burkardt on the edge of the box. He spins and shoots, with his effort deflecting narrowly over the bar.
An interesting start
Frankfurt are looking to press high and cause Atalanta problems, but Atalanta have successfully broken out of the Frankfurt press a couple of times already and look dangerous when they do.
First attack
Atalanta have started well, getting forward down the right well and putting in a couple of good crosses.
We're underway
Frankfurt get the ball moving.
Kick-off!
The famous anthem
The players are on the pitch, and the Champions League anthem is blaring out throughout the stadium.
Not long now
It is now just under 15 minutes until the first competitive meeting between these two sides.
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Frankfurt's Italian struggles
In contrast, Frankfurt have failed to win any of their last four games against Italian opposition. That includes the 0-0 draw against Napoli last time out.
© Francesco Pecoraro
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Atalanta's strong record against German opposition
The Italian side have a remarkably good record against German opposition, having won five and drawn three of their ten games. In fact, they have won their last two against German opposition, including the 2023/24 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
© Michael Regan
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More on those teams
Atalanta make two changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Napoli at the weekend as 17-year-old Ahanor drops to the bench to be replaced by Kossounou, and Scamacca joins the attack up front. Frankfurt, meanwhile, are unchanged from their 4-3 win at Cologne.
© Francesco Pecoraro
Frankfurt starting XI
Zetterer - Collins, Koch (c), Theate, Brown - Dahoud, Chaïbi - Dōan, Götze, Knauff - Burkardt
Frankfurt subs
Grahl, Santos, Amenda, Højlund, Kristensen, Skhiri, Wahi, Bahoya, Chandler, Buta, Batshuayi, Dills
Atalanta starting XI
Carnesecchi - Djimsiti, Hien, Kossounou - Bellanova, De Roon (c), Éderson, Zappacosta - De Ketelaere, Lookman - Scamacca
Atalanta subs
Sportiello, Musah, Sulemana, Pašalić, Samardžić, Kolašinac, Brescianini, Bernasconi, Zalewski, Ahanor, Maldini, Krstović
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Frankfurt's leaky defence
Despite only scoring three goals, Atalanta have only conceded five. Frankfurt, meanwhile, have conceded more than double with 11 and yet again conceded three against Cologne at the weekend. Albeit Frankfurt did hold Napoli to a goalless draw last time out, the same side that beat Atalanta 3-1 at the weekend.
© IMAGO/Andrea Staccioli / Insidefoto
Atalanta lacking confidence
This season has been tough for Atalanta across all competitions. They have managed just three goals in the Champions League so far despite having an xG value of 7.3.
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Dino Toppmöller on facing Atalanta
"It will be a 50/50 game, very open. Atalanta are very strong in the tackle and are an experienced, robust and interesting team. But we can create a special atmosphere here. We know the importance of this game because we can take a big step towards the play-offs with a win."
© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK
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Raffaele Palladino on facing Frankfurt
"Eintracht are a strong team who mustn't be taken lightly. They're doing well in the Bundesliga, they score lots of goals and they're playing at home with a big crowd behind them. We know we must show great respect to the opposition."
© Imago
Watch: Ritsu Dōan and Dino Toppmöller ready for 'crazy' night
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Atalanta's struggles
Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final and finished third in Serie A last season, but have found the going tough so far in 2025/26. An eight-game winless run in the league, including a 3-1 loss to Napoli on Saturday, has them down in 13th place after 12 matches - closer to the relegation zone than the top four. Despite some marginally more encouraging performances in the Champions League - wins over Club Brugge and Marseille, alongside defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and a draw with Slavia Prague - head coach Ivan Jurić was dismissed on 10 November, with Raffaele Palladino his replacement.
© Imago
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Mixed European campaign
Having qualified for the Champions League via their Bundesliga placing for the first time, Frankfurt kicked off the league phase with a 5-1 win at home to Galatasaray. Dino Toppmöller's side then lost to Atlético Madrid and Liverpool by the same scoreline, before earning a goalless draw against defending Serie A champions Napoli. Eintracht return to continental action 23rd in the 36-team standings, with places 9-24 going into the knockout phase play-offs. The top eight qualify automatically, with the bottom eight eliminated.
© Francesco Pecoraro
Cologne 3-4 Frankfurt - highlights
Jonathan Burkardt's brace helped Frankfurt extend their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to five matches this past weekend. The win lifted the Eagles up to sixth, just two points outside the top-four places.
Welcome!
Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Eintracht Frankfurt's Champions League encounter at home to Atalanta on Matchday 5 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Wednesday.
