Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta: Match Preview and Team Updates

Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta meet in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta – Match preview and team news

• Date: Tuesday, February 17.
• Kick-off: 8pm BST.
• Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund team news

Borussia Dortmund is facing a serious defensive issue before this important match. The club announced on social media that Nico Schlotterbeck (muscle issues) and Niklas Süle (thigh injury) missed the final training session and will not play. Captain Emre Can is also out with a groin injury, and Filippo Mane is expected to be sidelined until March.

To address the injury situation, Dortmund has added three young players to their Champions League squad: Luca Reggiani, Elias Benkara, and Danylo Krevsun. Reggiani came on for Süle during the recent win against Mainz and might start in this match.

Striker Serhou Guirassy has been in great form, scoring five goals in his last three Bundesliga matches, including two against Mainz. Coach Kovac noted the importance of Guirassy’s goals for their winning chances.

Atalanta team news

Atalanta will be without midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, who is recovering from right knee surgery and will likely miss four to five weeks. Striker Giacomo Raspadori is also out due to a hamstring injury suffered against Lazio.

Gianluca Scamacca is anticipated to lead the attack, supported by Lazar Samardžić and Nicola Zalewski. Marco Sportiello is set to start in goal, backed by a defensive trio of Giorgio Scalvini, Berat Djimsiti, and Honest Ahanor.

Form

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund is in outstanding form domestically, winning six straight Bundesliga matches. This impressive streak has narrowed the gap to leaders Bayern Munich from 11 points after Matchday 18 to six points now.

Their most recent victory came with a commanding 4-0 win against Mainz on Friday, where Julian Ryerson achieved four assists, becoming only the fourth player since the 2004-05 season to do so in a Bundesliga match.

Atalanta

Atalanta has been strong under coach Raffaele Palladino, remaining unbeaten in eight Serie A matches, with six wins. They currently rank sixth in the Serie A with 42 points from 25 matches.

Their latest form includes a 2-0 away win at Lazio on February 14, a 2-1 victory against Cremonese at home, and a 3-0 win over Juventus in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on February 5.

Predicted lineups

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Reggiani, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Beier; Guirassy

Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Ahanor; Zappacosta, Ederson, De Roon, Bernasconi; Raspadori, Zalewski; Krstovic

How to watch Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 3.

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