Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta face off in the UEFA Champions League playoffs second leg on Wednesday, with the Italians needing a big performance to overturn a first-leg deficit and keep their European dream alive.
Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund – Match preview and team news
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Date: Wednesday, 25th February.
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Venue: New Balance Arena, Bergamo.
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Atalanta team news
Raffaele Palladino faces a significant challenge as his side must overturn a two-goal deficit without key attacker Charles De Ketelaere, who remains sidelined with a meniscus injury sustained earlier this month.
January signing Giacomo Raspadori is also unavailable due to a muscle strain, with a projected return date in early March.
Palladino should otherwise have a full complement of players to select from, with Ederson and Gianluca Scamacca expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested at the weekend. However, Scamacca was used as a substitute.
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Borussia Dortmund news
Niko Kovac travels to Bergamo with defensive concerns but boosted by the potential return of Nico Schlotterbeck. The centre-back trained on Tuesday and has been included in the travelling squad after missing the first leg.
However, Emre Can and Niklas Sule remain unavailable. Can is sidelined with adductor pain, while Sule continues his recovery. Filippo Mane is also out with a thigh injury.
The attacking partnership of Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier, who scored Dortmund’s goals in the first leg, is expected to continue, along with Julian Brandt.
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Julian Ryerson has been in exceptional form, registering nine assists in nine competitive games in 2026, including four in the 4-0 Bundesliga victory over Mainz.
Form
Atalanta
The Bergamo side currently sits seventh in Serie A with 45 points from 26 matches, having collected 12 wins, nine draws and five losses.
They are unbeaten in their last nine Serie A games that includes victories over elite opposition such as Juventus (3-0), Lazio (2-0), and Napoli (2-1).
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Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund remain firmly in the Bundesliga title race, sitting second and just six points behind Bayern Munich with a crucial Der Klassiker clash looming this Saturday.
Kovac’s side have won six consecutive Bundesliga matches before their 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig last weekend.
Predicted lineups
Atalanta: 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
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How to watch Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund?
UK fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports 3.
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