Atalanta vs Dortmund: Live Score, Lineups & Key Moments in Today's Europa League Thriller

Atalanta host Borussia Dortmund at the newly re-branded New Balance Arena tonight (25 February 2026, 17:45 UTC) knowing they must overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Kick-off, venue & broadcast • Kick-off: 18:45 CET / 17:45 UTC • Stadium: New Balance Arena, Bergamo (formerly Gewiss) • Live TV: Sony Sports Network (India), CBS/Paramount+ (USA), TNT Sports (UK) – full global list here. A capacity crowd of 25,000 is expected after the club confirmed a sell-out within 48 hours. Form guide • Atalanta: L W D L W (all comps) • Dortmund: W W D W W Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have lost only once at home this season, but Edin Terzić’s men arrive unbeaten in nine and buoyed by February’s 2-0 triumph in Dortmund that featured goals from Maximilian Beier and Julian Brandt. Team news & predicted line-ups Atalanta are without captain Rafael Tolói (hamstring) and winger Ademola Lookman (muscle fatigue). Charles De Ketelaere, rested at the weekend, should return in support of Rasmus Højlund. Probable XI (3-4-2-1): Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Éderson, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri; Pasalic, De Ketelaere; Højlund. Dortmund travel minus Karim Adeyemi (ankle) but welcome back Nico Schlotterbeck from suspension. Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaïni; Can, Özcan; Malen, Brandt, Reus; Beier. Tactical snapshot • Atalanta will press high with man-oriented marking, trying to pin Dortmund’s full-backs and create overloads on the flanks. • Dortmund are expected to sit in a compact mid-block, springing counters through Malen’s pace while exploiting Beier’s movement between the lines. • Gasperini may switch to a front two in the second half—Luis Muriel has scored five of his last seven Champions League goals as a substitute. Key stats 1. Dortmund have progressed on each of the last six occasions they won the first leg by two goals or more. 2. Atalanta average 2.3 goals per European home game under Gasperini. 3. Gregor Kobel’s 83 % save rate is the best of any keeper left in the competition. Odds & prediction USA TODAY’s consensus line has Dortmund favorites to qualify (1/4) but pricing the single-match result nearly even, Atalanta +160, Draw +240, Dortmund +170. The hosts must score early; fail to do so and the German side’s counter-punching should see them through. Verdict: Atalanta 1-1 Dortmund (agg 1-3). Why this match matters Beyond a quarter-final berth, the fixture places two of Europe’s most innovative talent factories head-to-head. Scouting eyes will be on Koopmeiners, Malen and teenage full-back Samuele Inácio, whose controversial move to Dortmund continues to sour relations between the clubs, triggering Atalanta’s decision to cancel the traditional pre-match UEFA lunch. How to follow Minute-by-minute text commentary and in-game highlights will be available via VAVEL’s dedicated live blog from 17:00 UTC. Engage on social with #AtalantaDortmund and #UCL to join the conversation.