7M - Match Preview: Atalanta BC vs Borussia Dortmund

On February 25, 2026, Atalanta BC will host Borussia Dortmund at Gewiss Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League knockout matchup. The Italian side is trailing 2-0 following a challenging first leg, where goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier put Dortmund in a commanding position.

Despite having secured a stronger league position than Dortmund during the group stage, Atalanta finds themselves needing to overcome a significant deficit to keep their Champions League dreams alive. The first leg marked a rare occasion where Atalanta recorded only seven shots, their fewest attempts in 42 previous Champions League matches.

Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino will be looking to inspire his squad, who have recently been in impressive form, remaining unbeaten in Serie A this year. Following a comeback victory over Napoli, where Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic both scored, they are eager to continue their domestic success and shift that momentum into Europe.

On the other hand, Dortmund has shown resilience in their Bundesliga campaign, with only one defeat in their last 30 league matches. They earned a draw against RB Leipzig that kept them in contention for the title, sitting eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich. Dortmund are aiming to progress to the last 16 for the seventh time in eight seasons.

Both teams have key player absences to consider; Atalanta will miss forwards Giacomo Raspadori and Charles De Ketelaere due to injury. Dortmund could see the return of Nico Schlotterbeck after his absence in the first leg, providing a boost to their defensive lineup.

Predicted Lineups:

Atalanta BC: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Djimsiti, Ahanor; Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Bernasconi; Pasalic, Zalewski; Scamacca.

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Nmecha, Bellingham, Svensson; Brandt, Beier; Guirassy.

Final Prediction: Atalanta BC 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (Dortmund to win 3-1 on aggregate)

Given their strong performance in the first leg and overall form, Dortmund is expected to secure their place in the next round, despite the challenge posed by Atalanta's home advantage.