Champions League

ATA Atalanta Atalanta - BVB Dortmund Borussia Dortmund

Atalanta Atalanta

Dortmund Borussia Dortmund

Wed, 25.02.202617:45 PM

New Balance Arena

Do you remember?

Dortmund faced Atalanta in the round of 32 of the 2017/2018 UEFA Europa League. Just like this time, Dortmund took a home win in the first leg (Michy Batshuayi scoring twice in a 3-2 win) before a vital Marcel Schmelzer strike earned a 1-1 draw in Italy that took the Black and Yellows through.

Guirassy gets Champions League goals

The striker's early first-leg opener was his fourth goal of the current UEFA Champions League campaign - and 17th in just 23 appearances in the competition for Dortmund.

Good news for Dortmund

Dortmund's defensive options looked to be improving ahead of the crunch tie with Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can training on Tuesday, a day ahead of the match - and both were then named in Dortmund's matchday squad.

Expert interceptors

Atalanta and Dortmund are both in the top four clubs for ball recoveries in the current UEFA Champions League season, with the Italian side in third with 394 and Dortmund just eight recoveries behind.

1:10

Watch: Dortmund's top 5 Bundesliga goals this season

Atalanta in form

Dortmund's opponents came from behind to beat Italian champions Napoli 2-1 on Saturday and extend their unbeaten league run to nine matches. After a difficult start to the season, they are currently seventh in the Serie A table.

Early Atalanta team news

The Italian side will be without De Ketelaere and Raspadori for the clash against Dortmund - both of whom are out of action for several weeks. Scamacca and Éderson are expected to return to the starting XI after being rested against Napoli at the weekend.

Early Dortmund team news

BVB are likely to be without two key players in Bergamo, as Can (groin) has been out for weeks due to injury, while Schlotterbeck (muscular) faces a race against time to prove his fitness. Silva might hope to play a role after his late heroics against Leipzig.

1:06

Watch: RB Leipzig 2-2 Borussia Dortmund

Niko Kovač's side came from two goals down to draw away at Leipzig last time out.

Good omen?

Dortmund have progressed the last two times they won a home first leg in the Champions League, against PSG in 2024 and Lille last year (pictured). In total, they have advanced 21 times after winning the first leg on their own turf, going out on 17 occasions.

100 wins

The first leg saw Dortmund produce their 100th win in the Champions League/European Cup since they first beat Spora Luxemburg 4-3 in August 1956. They have reached a century in 206 games, with 40 draws and 66 defeats, following Bayern Munich as the only German clubs to reach 100 victories in Europe's top club competition.

Kehl: "It's only half-time"

Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl added: "I'm happy but still level-headed, because I know we're only at half-time [in the tie]. We've got a very tough task next week in Bergamo. We saw today that Atalanta are a good team and will pose a challenge there. We need to prepare for a huge fight next week. We need to be on it from the start. Only then will we progress to the next round."

Brandt: "We can be happy"

Dortmund's Julian Brandt, speaking after the first leg: "On the whole, we're pleased and head to Bergamo next week with confidence. I would've liked if we'd got another goal in the second half. A 2-0 [advantage] is a bit treacherous but also gives us some security, because we kept a clean sheet and scored two goals. We can generally be happy with the game."

Kovač "pleased" with first leg

Speaking after his team's first-leg victory, Dortmund boss Niko Kovač said: "I'm very pleased. We played good football, scored two goals and did good work in the second half. We've worked very hard on some things that we did well tonight. Serhou scored a goal and provided an assist. That's exactly what we need."

Advantage BVB

Dortmund head to Italy holding a 2-0 lead from last Tuesday's first leg at Signal Iduna Park. Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier both struck in the first half to put the Bundesliga club in pole position to advance to the last 16.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this UEFA Champions League knockout play-off second leg between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund.