Match: Atalanta vs Dortmund
Selection: Away 0.5
Odds: 1.32
Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund: Champions League Playoff Preview – La Dea Chase Dramatic Comeback in Bergamo
| Time | Home Team | Away Team | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUROPE: Champions League - Play Offs | |||
| 18:45 | Atalanta | Dortmund | 2 0.5 |
| 21:00 | Juventus | Galatasaray | 2 0.5 |
| 21:00 | PSG | Monaco | 1 2up |
| 21:00 | Real Madrid | Benfica | 12&ov1.5 |
| EGYPT: Premier League | |||
| 20:30 | Al Masry | Modern Sport | 1 0.5 |
| 20:30 | National Bank Egypt | Pharco | X or gg |
| 20:30 | Petrojet | Al Ittihad | X or gg |
| ENGLAND: Championship | |||
| 20:45 | Millwall | Birmingham | 2 0.5 |
| 20:45 | Norwich | Sheffield Wed | 2 0.5 |
| 20:45 | Sheffield Utd | Coventry | ov1.5 |
| 21:00 | Stoke | Oxford Utd | 1 |
| ENGLAND: National League | |||
| 20:45 | Braintree | Aldershot | ov1.5 |
| 20:45 | Eastleigh | Truro | 1 1up |
| 20:45 | Gateshead | Morecambe | ov1.5 |
| 20:45 | Hartlepool | Carlisle | 2 |
| 20:45 | Woking | Solihull Moors | 12 |
| 20:45 | Yeovil | Sutton | 2 0.5 |
| ENGLAND: National League South | |||
| 20:45 | Farnborough | Chippenham | 1 |
| ENGLAND: Southern League Premier South | |||
| 20:45 | Taunton | Wimborne | ov2.5 |
| FINLAND: Ykkosliigacup | |||
| 17:30 | KTP | Mikkeli | 1 1up |
| GERMANY: Regionalliga Nordost | |||
| 19:00 | Hertha Zehlendorf | Chemie Leipzig | ov1.5 |
| GERMANY: Regionalliga Sudwest | |||
| 19:00 | Grossaspach | Freiburg II | 2 0.5 |
| GERMANY: Oberliga Westfalen | |||
| 19:30 | Preussen Munster 2 | ASC 09 Dortmund | 2 or ov2.5 |
| ICELAND: League Cup | |||
| 18:00 | Afturelding | Thor Akureyri | Asian ov3 |
| 20:00 | Breidablik | Leiknir | 1 |
| ICELAND: Reykjavik Cup - Play Offs | |||
| 20:00 | Vikingur Reykjavik | Throttur | 1 1up |
| SWITZERLAND: Super League | |||
| 19:00 | Winterthur | Thun | 2 2up |
| WALES: Cymru North | |||
| 20:45 | Ruthin | Airbus | 2 2up |
Atalanta welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout playoff tie on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Kick-off is set for 18:45 CET, with the Italian side trailing 2-0 from the first leg at Signal Iduna Park. The atmosphere promises to be intense as the home fans urge their team to mount a famous comeback and advance to the round of 16.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have built a reputation for thrilling European nights at home, where their high-pressing, attacking style often overwhelms visitors. After a tough first-leg defeat in Germany, Atalanta need to score at least three goals without reply to progress on aggregate, or force extra time with an even bigger margin. That challenge is steep, yet the Bergamo outfit have shown time and again they thrive when backs are against the wall.
Tactically, expect Gasperini to stick with his favored 3-4-2-1 formation that gives width through the wing-backs and creativity in advanced areas. The focus will be on relentless pressing to win the ball high up the pitch, quick transitions, and exploiting set pieces where Atalanta have been dangerous all season. Players like Davide Zappacosta and Matteo Ruggeri offer energy on the flanks, while the midfield duo of Marten De Roon and Ederson provides the balance needed to launch attacks. Up front, Gianluca Scamacca leads the line, supported by the likes of Lazar Samardzic and other creative options looking to unlock Dortmund’s defense.
Team news brings some concerns for the hosts. Atalanta are missing a couple of key attacking players through injury, which forces Gasperini to rely on his squad depth. No suspensions complicate matters, but the absence of those forwards makes the task of overturning the deficit even tougher. Still, the squad has enough quality and experience in big European games to believe a turnaround is possible.
Borussia Dortmund, managed by Nuri Sahin or his successor depending on the exact timeline, arrive with a two-goal cushion and will look to play with control and discipline. Their first-leg performance showed defensive solidity and clinical finishing, and they will aim to frustrate Atalanta by sitting compact, absorbing pressure, and hitting on the counter with pacey forwards like Serhou Guirassy or Karim Adeyemi. Key figures such as goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, central defenders, and midfield creators will be vital in protecting the lead.
The key insight lies in the contrasting needs of both sides. Atalanta must throw everything forward from the start, risking gaps at the back that Dortmund’s dangerous attackers could exploit. Dortmund, on the other hand, need to stay patient, avoid silly mistakes, and manage the game smartly without conceding early momentum to the home crowd. History suggests that ties like this can swing wildly when one team chases goals, and Atalanta’s home record in Europe gives them genuine hope despite the deficit.
This match represents another chapter in Atalanta’s impressive rise as a European force, testing their character against a established Bundesliga giant. For Dortmund, progression would confirm their status among the continent’s elite, while a slip-up would be a painful reminder of how quickly knockout football can turn.
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