Champions League Matchday 7: Atalanta vs Athletic Club facts

High-flying Atalanta welcome an Athletic Club side in urgent need of three points in Bergamo to bolster their UEFA Champions League challenge.

While the Italian side began Matchday 7 in fifth place in the league phase standings on 13 points (W4 D1 L1), their Spanish visitors were 28th on five (W1 D2 L3) and have failed to score in their last three fixtures.

Last match

This is the teams' first meeting.

Atalanta are winless in their last seven meetings with Spanish opposition (D2 L5) having won their first two, against Valencia in the 2019/20 round of 16 (4-1 h, 4-3 a).

The Italian side have conceded 16 goals in those seven games, a 2-2 draw at Barcelona on Matchday 8 last season ending a three-match losing streak.

Athletic were 3-1 winners at home to Roma in their last fixtures against an Italian club, in last season's UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg (4-3 aggregate), only their second success in their last seven games involving Serie A sides (D2 L3).

Although Athletic have lost only three of their last 14 matches against Italian teams (W6 D5) they have managed just one win in their 11 away games (D4 L6), 2-1 at Sampdoria in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup first round first leg (4-1 agg). Their record since is D4 L2.

Atalanta

Atalanta are taking part in the Champions League proper for the fifth time – all since 2019 – in 2025/26.

The Bergamo club were ninth in last season's league phase (W4 D3 L1) before losing 2-5 on aggregate to Club Brugge in the knockout phase play-offs.

Athletic Club

Athletic are in the Champions League proper for the first time since 2014/15; their only other appearance came in 1998/99.

European Cup quarter-finalists on debut in 1956/57, the Basque side have won only three of their 16 matches in the Champions League proper (D6 L7).

Key stats

Atalanta are unbeaten in five Champions League games (W4 D1), a 2-1 comeback win at home to Chelsea on Matchday 6 making it three successive victories.

La Dea have lost only two of their last 20 group stage/league phase games in European competition (W12 D6) and one of the last ten at home (W5 D4).

All eight of Atalanta's league phase goals this season have come in the second half.

Charles De Ketelaere has scored in Atalanta's last two Champions League matches.

Having drawn 0-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 6, Athletic have won one of their last eight European games (D2 L5).

Overall, Athletic have won ten of their last 17 European group stage/league phase fixtures (D3 L4).

The Basque club's last two games have finished 0-0; they have not scored in the last three.