Why Borussia Dortmund will advance against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League

After a confident 2-0 home win over Serie A side Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund are in control of a tough UEFA Champions League last 16 play-off. We explain why Dortmund's first-leg advantage, form, determined play and European pedigree will see them through to the knockouts.

Recap the action from Dortmund's first-leg victory HERE!

Tremendous track record

Dortmund on a midweek night in early spring brings instant connotations with the Champions League - for good reason. In the last two seasons, Die Schwarzgelben have made it through five two-legged knockout rounds in the competition and exited only once (against Barcelona in last season's quarter-finals).

Victory in the first leg means that Niko Kovač's charges also now have the proud record of being unbeaten in their last eight home Champions League knockout legs - a record which extends all the way back to April 2021. A squad that has the experience of going deep into the competition, even reaching the final two years ago, should prove too much for Atalanta - who have only once previously progressed through a knockout round.

What's more, in three prior meetings with Atalanta, Dortmund remain undefeated (two wins, one draw), scoring six goals overall to the Italians' three.

Watch: Something brewing in Dortmund

Solid spine

Having become Champions League specialists somewhat in the past two seasons, Dortmund have become an incredibly tough proposition domestically in the current campaign. The hard running and determined defending that has seen them lose just one of their past 31 Bundesliga matches could prove to be vital attributes in continental knockout affairs.

A steely spine within the team makes them primed to outmuscle their Italian opponents. Gregor Kobel has provided an ever-dependable presence behind a defence featuring Mr. Consistent, Waldemar Anton, and a midfield in which Felix Nmecha has perfectly pulled the strings - a formidable core indeed to have.

Julian Ryerson has also come to the fore in recent weeks as one of Dortmund's primary playmakers. Off the back of delivering a four-strong assist haul against Mainz, which took his Bundesliga tally up to 11 for the campaign, the Norwegian continued his strong run of recent form by teeing up Serhou Guirassy for the opener in the first leg.

Watch: Ryerson's four assists against Mainz

Goals galore

Dortmund have plundered an incredible 41 goals in 16 league phase matches since the start of last season. They certainly have the firepower to outscore an Atalanta side that mustered just over half as many goals in this season's league phase (10 to Dortmund's 19).

Even more encouraging is the fact that Dortmund have as many as 11 different Champions League scorers in the current campaign. Their top source so far with four goals has been none other than Guirassy, who, after finishing as joint-top scorer in last season's competition with 13 strikes, is back and firing for BVB at a crucial juncture in their campaign. 

As Atalanta learned in the first leg to their detriment, it may be impossible to stop the marksman once he hits his stride in Europe.

Watch: The best of Guirassy in 2025/26

Up and away 

Playing the second leg in Italy is nominally a disadvantage for Dortmund, but given their great away record, they can be confident of claiming a result in Bergamo on Wednesday.  

Borussia's sole away defeat in 12 Bundesliga trips this season was a narrow 2-1 Klassiker defeat in Munich in October, while scoring four goals in an action-packed draw at Juventus and a 4-2 win in Copenhagen was a reminder that Dortmund are capable of big European away showings, which bodes well as they carry a two-goal cushion into the second leg. 

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