Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund will be looking to secure their spot in the Champions League round of 16 as they take a two-goal lead at Atalanta
After falling 2-0 in last week's first leg, Atalanta face an uphill battle to keep their Champions League hopes alive as they host Borussia Dortmund in Bergamo on Wednesday. The winner of this playoff will go on to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich, with Dortmund entering as favourites to secure a place in the last 16.
Despite finishing two points and two places above Dortmund in the group stage—earning the right to play the second leg at home—Atalanta now have a mountain to climb following their defeat in Germany. Goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier put Dortmund firmly in control, handing Atalanta their third consecutive European loss, after setbacks against Athletic Bilbao and Union Saint-Gilloise in January. In contrast to their strong domestic form, Atalanta struggled in Germany, managing just seven shots—their second-lowest total in 42 Champions League matches.
Now, Atalanta must attempt to become the first team to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit in a Champions League knockout tie since Liverpool’s famous comeback against Barcelona in 2019. However, aside from their disappointment in Dortmund, Raffaele Palladino’s side have enjoyed an impressive February, reaching the Coppa Italia semi-finals and continuing their climb up the Serie A table. Unbeaten in domestic competition this calendar year, with eight wins and two draws, Atalanta most recently came from behind to defeat Napoli on Sunday, thanks to second-half headers from Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic.
Meanwhile, Dortmund showed their own resilience over the weekend, with Fabio Silva scoring a dramatic late equaliser in a 2-2 draw against RB Leipzig. That result leaves Niko Kovac’s team eight points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, whom they will face in Der Klassiker this weekend and could also meet in the next round of the Champions League.
Dortmund have established themselves as Bayern’s main domestic challengers, losing just once in their last 30 league matches and consistently demonstrating their European pedigree. Runners-up two years ago and Champions League winners in 1997, BVB are aiming to reach the last 16 for the seventh time in eight seasons—a feat that history suggests is within their grasp. Dortmund have progressed from all 10 UEFA ties in which they held a two-goal first-leg advantage, and in their only previous encounter with Atalanta, they edged a 4-3 aggregate win in the 2017-18 Europa League, drawing 1-1 in Bergamo.
However, Dortmund’s record in Italy is mixed, with five losses in their last eight visits. This season, they have also twice conceded four goals in Champions League away matches—against Manchester City and Juventus—so Niko Kovac will be wary of any complacency as his side look to finish the job in Bergamo.
Atalanta vs Dortmund Team News
As in the first leg, Atalanta will be without forwards Giacomo Raspadori and Charles De Ketelaere—the latter having contributed six goal involvements and created 20 chances during the group stage. Aside from those absences, Raffaele Palladino has a fully fit squad at his disposal, with Ederson expected to return to the starting lineup after resting a minor muscle issue on Sunday. Nikola Krstovic led the line against Napoli, but Gianluca Scamacca—who started up front in Germany—could reclaim his place in attack.
On the other side, Dortmund were missing several defenders in the first leg, with Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule, Emre Can, and Filippo Mane all unavailable. Their absence allowed teenager Luca Reggiani to make his Champions League debut. Schlotterbeck has since returned to full training and may be available for selection, though it remains uncertain if he is ready to play the full 90 minutes. Dortmund have had 10 different players find the net in this season’s competition, with Serhou Guirassy leading the team on four goals. The Guinean striker now boasts 24 goal involvements in just 23 Champions League appearances—the second-highest total for Dortmund, behind only club legend Marco Reus.
Atalanta vs Dortmund Prediction
18+ | Gamble responsibly | gambleaware.org | Odds subject to change
Football Betting Offers
If you are on the lookout for the latest free bet offers, then look no further. Here, not only do we bring you numerous free bet offers, but all from the very best betting sites in the industry. Each bookie we recommend is fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you know you are always betting on a safe and trustworthy site.
Check out the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers here.
Full terms and conditions apply | gambleaware.org | Gamble responsibly | 18+ | UK only
READ MORE: Free Bets & Bookmaker Sign Up Offers
Gamble responsibly
Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too.
We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit gambleaware.org.