Borussia Dortmund hosts Atalanta this Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in a match valid for the UEFA Champions League playoff phase. The clash, which takes place at the iconic Signal Iduna Park, at Dortmund, at Alemanha, is scheduled for 5pm local Brazilian time. Este first leg is essential for both teams, who are looking for a place in the round of 16 of the biggest club competition in Europa after the new league format.
The two teams arrive for this knockout stage in moments of affirmation in their national leagues and continental competitions. Borussia Dortmund, under the command of coach Niko Kovac, tries to use the strength of its “Amarela Wall” to build a comfortable lead before the trip to On the other hand, Atalanta, led by Raffaele Palladino, relies on its solid defensive system and quick transitions to surprise the Germans at home.
The preparation for this event has moved behind the scenes of European football in the last few hours. Confira below are details about the broadcast, the likely teams that will take the field and the recent review:
- The game will be broadcast live on channel Space, on closed TV;
- The HBO Max streaming platform will show the confrontation for subscribers;
- Dutch referee Serdar Gözübüyük will be responsible for blowing the whistle at Signal Iduna Park;
- The return match is scheduled for the end of February at Itália.
Broadcast and event details on Dortmund
Fans who want to watch the duel between the Germans and Italians will have different options on Brazilian soil. The match will be shown exclusively on Warner Bros channels. Discovery, holder of the competition’s broadcasting rights. The signal will be available both on pay television and via the internet, guaranteeing full coverage for international football enthusiasts.
The environment at Signal Iduna Park promises to be one of absolute pressure for visitors from the first minutes. Historicamente, Borussia Dortmund maintains a high record in knockout matches at their stadium, losing only two of the last 22 home games for the The expectation is for a full house, with more than 80 thousand fans present to support the squad led by Niko Kovac in this decisive phase.
Probable lineups for Borussia Dortmund
The German team enters the field with some important doubts in the defensive sector for this international commitment. Niko Kovac indicated in recent interviews that he does not intend to risk using athletes who are not 100% physically, which could force tactical changes. The line of three defenders has been the basis of the Aurinegro system, aiming for greater protection against the quick counterattacks characteristic of the Italian opponent.
The probable Borussia Dortmund must have Kobel in goal; Niklas Süle, Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini composing the back three. In midfield, the team tends to line up Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha and Daniel Svensson. The offensive sector must have Maximilian Beier and Julian Brandt supporting the center forward Serhou Guirassy, the home team’s main hope for goals.
Atalanta strategy for the first game
Atalanta arrives at Alemanha boasting an unbeaten run of eight matches in domestic competitions at Itália. Raffaele Palladino managed to stabilize the defensive sector, which only conceded ten goals throughout the initial phase of Champions League. The Bérgamo team traveled with an almost complete squad, focusing on maintaining possession of the ball in midfield to dictate the pace of the game and neutralize the initial pressure from the home team.
The Italian coach must maintain the 3-4-2-1 tactical scheme, prioritizing compactness between the defense and midfield lines. Marco Carnesecchi will be the starter in goal, protected by Giorgio Scalvini, Berat Djimsiti and the young Honest Ahanor in defense. The midfield quartet will probably have Davide Zappacosta, midfielders Éderson and Marten from Roon, as well as Lorenzo Bernasconi. Up front, Lazar Samardzic and Nicola Zalewski must play close to the attacker Nikola Krstovic.
Team moment and continental retrospect
Borussia Dortmund arrives on the back of an impressive 4-0 victory over Mainz in Bundesliga, occupying second place in the German championship. The attack has been the strong point of the season, scoring 19 goals in the group stage of the Champions, which places the team among the most efficient in the tournament. Essa’s offensive capabilities will be tested by the tactical organization of Atalanta, which has specialized in frustrating strong opponents recently.
The Italian team also won their last match in Série A, beating Lazio 2-0 away from home. Esse result boosted the morale of the group, which seeks to overcome the previous season’s campaign, when it fell in this same playoff phase. Atalanta has demonstrated maturity in games away from home, managing to balance possession even against giants from the continent.
Physical preparation and confirmed absences
Niko Kovac faces problems in defense, with Nico Schlotterbeck being the most felt absence for this Tuesday’s duel. The defender did not recover in time from a muscle injury and was vetoed by the medical department to prevent the condition from worsening. As a result, the Croatian coach will need to adapt players to deeper roles or rely on athletes with less experience in high-level European competitions.
In Atalanta, the confirmed absence is that of Ademola Lookman, who recently left the club, changing part of Palladino’s offensive planning. Entretanto, Giorgio Scalvini’s return to full fitness has given greater security to the Italian defensive system in recent weeks. The technical committee is monitoring the situation of some players who showed fatigue after the classic against Lazio, but the trend is towards maximum available strength.
Expectations for the international clash
Football experts and analysts point to a rare balance for this knockout clash at Signal Iduna Park. Enquanto o Dortmund has the historical advantage and massive support from its fans, Atalanta presents more solid collective football in moments of defensive pressure. The first game is seen as a thermometer to see if the German momentum will be able to break the tactical bolt set up by Raffaele Palladino.
Serdar Gözübüyük’s Dutch refereeing is known for allowing a more physical game, which can benefit both teams that use a lot of strength in ball disputes. Assistants Patrick Inia and Rogier Honig, together with VAR Pol van Boekel, complete the refereeing team for the duel. The promise is of an intense tactical confrontation, where every mistake can be decisive for both clubs’ qualification aspirations.
Tactical analysis of attacks on the field
The duel between Serhou Guirassy and the Atalanta defense should be one of the highlights of the night in Dortmund. The Guinean center forward is going through an inspired phase and will be the main target of Julian Ryerson’s crosses and Brandt’s infiltrations. The Italian defense will need to pay extra attention to aerial plays, one of the points where Borussia Dortmund usually has an advantage over its opponents in the 2025/26 season.
On the other hand, Samardzic’s mobility and Zalewski’s speed could cause problems for the slow rebuilding of the German defense. Atalanta tends to use wingers Zappacosta and Bernasconi a lot to widen the field and create spaces behind the opposing midfielders. If the German midfield is unable to intercept these lateral passes, the pressure on goalkeeper Gregor Kobel will be constant throughout the 90 minutes of play.
