Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg: Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta facts

Borussia Dortmund's fourth successive knockout appearance in the UEFA Champions League brings them up against Atalanta, who are in the knockout phase play-offs for the second season in a row.

The German club were 17th in the league phase on 11 points (W3 D2 L3); their Italian visitors were two places and two points better off (W4 D1 L3).

Last match

The teams' only previous meetings came in the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League round of 32, Dortmund advancing 4-3 on aggregate after a 3-2 win in Germany and a 1-1 draw in Italy.

Dortmund have lost their three two legged European Cup ties against Italian opposition, most recently 1-5 on aggregate to Juventus in the 2014/15 round of 16 (1-2 a, 0-3 h). They did, however, beat the Bianconeri 3-1 in the 1997 final in Munich.

A 0-2 loss at home to Inter on Matchday 8 means Dortmund have won only one of their last seven games against Italian teams (D3 L3). They also drew 4-4 at Juventus on Matchday 1 this season in a game they led 4-2 after 93 minutes.

Atalanta's 3-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 5 made it three successive wins against Italian opponents, all without conceding. They have lost only two of their 11 games against German opposition (W6 D3).

La Dea are unbeaten in their last four away matches against German teams (W3 D1).

This is Atalanta's first European Cup knockout tie against a German team. Their two-legged record against Bundesliga clubs is W2 L2, with defeat in the most recent, against Leipzig in the 2021/22 Europa League quarter-finals (1-1 a, 0-2 h). They beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the 2024 final.

Dortmund

This is Dortmund's tenth successive appearance in the Champions League proper.

In 2024/25, BVB were tenth in the league phase (W5 L3) and beat Sporting CP (3-0 aggregate) and LOSC Lille (3-2 agg) before losing 3-5 to Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

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.

Key stats

Dortmund are in the Champions League knockout phase for the 11th time in the last 14 seasons and the 14th overall. They won 3-0 on aggregate against Sporting CP at this stage last season (3-0 a, 0-0 h).

BVB have won their home leg in six of their last eight two-legged Champions League ties (D2).

Defeat by Inter last time out was only Dortmund's second in their last 22 home Champions League games (W13 D7).

The German club have won 99 European Cup games.

The Italian side are in the knockout phase for the fourth time in seven seasons. They lost against Club Brugge at this stage last season (1-2 a, 1-3 h).

Nine of Atalanta's ten Champions League goals this season have come in the second half.

A 1-0 loss at Union Saint-Gilloise on Matchday 8 was Atalanta's second successive defeat – and a third in their last five away European games (W2).