In a crucial UEFA Champions League encounter, Atalanta faced Borussia Dortmund, marking the beginning of a tense knockout stage. Atalanta’s recent performance history raises concerns, as they have been eliminated from their last four major European knockout ties after losing the opening match. The team’s struggles were compounded by a significant 2-0 loss in the first leg against Dortmund, their first defeat by more than one goal at this stage.
Champions League Knockout Stage Insights
Borussia Dortmund has demonstrated a strong advantage in the Champions League. They have successfully advanced in seven of their last nine knockout attempts after winning the first leg. However, in the two instances where they failed to proceed, their first leg victories were narrow, coming down to a one-goal margin each time—against PSG in the 2019-20 season and Chelsea in 2022-23.
Historical Performance Data
Historically, teams facing a deficit of two or more goals after the first leg in UEFA Champions League knockout ties have struggled to recover. Out of 126 occurrences, only 15 teams have managed to advance, with the latest example being Liverpool’s remarkable comeback against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-final.
- Atalanta’s record against Borussia Dortmund: 0 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses
- Atalanta’s previous home match against Dortmund ended in a 1-1 draw during the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League.
- Dortmund’s recent form against Italian clubs is unimpressive, with just one win in their last eight away matches (D2 L5).
Atalanta’s Recent Struggles
Atalanta is currently facing a challenging period, having lost their last three Champions League games. This string of defeats marks an unprecedented situation, as they have never lost four consecutive matches in major European competitions. Additionally, in their recent loss to Dortmund, Atalanta managed only seven shots—an unusually low number since they had previously recorded even fewer shots in their first 42 Champions League matches (only 2 against Real Madrid in February 2021).
Key Players in Focus
Key players have emerged in Borussia Dortmund’s campaign. Serhou Guirassy has been particularly impactful, contributing to 24 goals in just 23 Champions League appearances for the team, making him the second highest scorer behind Marco Reus. Both Guirassy and Maximilian Beier scored in the first leg against Atalanta, a notable achievement, as only Erling Haaland has previously managed to score in both legs of a Champions League knockout tie for the German side.
As the teams prepare for the second leg, Atalanta must overcome substantial odds to advance, while Borussia Dortmund aims to consolidate their position and avoid a repeat of past eliminations.
