headlinez.news – Atalanta will host Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League play-off round at the New Balance Arena. The UEFA Champions League (UCL) match is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 12:45 AM EST, with live streaming available on Vidio.
Atalanta faces a significant challenge as they welcome Borussia Dortmund to Italy, trailing 2-0 on aggregate after the first leg in Germany. The stakes are high as the winner of this tie will advance to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the Round of 16.
Despite finishing higher than Dortmund in the league phase – two points and two positions ahead – that advantage proved inconsequential following the initial 2-0 defeat.
The first leg saw Atalanta deliver one of their most ineffective Champions League performances, registering just seven shots, their fewest in the club’s history in the competition.
Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier scored for Dortmund, showcasing their efficiency in a match that was otherwise relatively balanced in terms of possession.
Atalanta will now attempt to replicate a rare comeback, reminiscent of Liverpool’s triumph over Barcelona in 2019. They aim to become one of the few teams in recent years to overturn a two-goal or greater first-leg deficit.
The Italian side enters the match with momentum, fueled by impressive domestic form throughout February. Atalanta reached the semifinals of the Coppa Italia and remain undefeated in 2026 with eight wins and two draws.
A Serie A victory over Napoli, secured by goals from Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic, further solidified their positive momentum. Playing in Bergamo offers additional hope for Raffaele Palladino’s squad.
Dortmund also arrives with confidence, having secured a 2-2 draw against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga thanks to a late goal from Fabio Silva, demonstrating their resilience.
Statistically, the German team has lost only once in their last 30 Bundesliga matches. They were also runners-up in the Champions League two seasons ago and are targeting a seventh appearance in the knockout stages in eight seasons.
Historically, Dortmund has a strong record in European competitions, winning all 10 UEFA ties when holding a two-goal advantage from the first leg, including a victory over Atalanta in the 2017/18 Europa League.
However, their away record in Italy is less convincing, with five losses in their last eight visits. This season, they conceded four goals during a trip to Manchester City and Juventus.
