Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta Prediction - UEFA Champions League

Thanh Vinh•February 17, 2026 09:03

Borussia Dortmund face Atalanta at Signal Iduna Park in a crucial Champions League match, where both teams are striving to improve their position in the standings.

Borussia Dortmund will host Atalanta at Signal Iduna Park at 3:00 AM on February 18, 2026. This match is extremely important for both clubs as they are currently in the lower half of the table and desperately need a win to keep their hopes alive in Europe's most prestigious competition.

03:00 on February 18th - UEFA Champions League Group Stage

Currently, Atalanta sits in 15th place with 13 points after 8 matches, while German side Borussia Dortmund is in 17th place with 11 points. This narrow gap makes the direct confrontation more intense than ever, as the result could completely change the standings for both teams.

Performance analysis: The attack compensates for the defense.

Borussia Dortmund is showing a contrasting face between attack and defense. The yellow and black team boasts an impressive scoring rate, averaging 2.4 goals per game (a total of 19 goals in 8 matches). However, their defense is a major concern, having conceded 17 goals. Dortmund's recent form has been inconsistent, with 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses in their last 5 matches.

In contrast, Atalanta maintains a more pragmatic and balanced style of play. They have scored 10 goals and conceded 10 goals in 8 rounds. Notably, the Serie A representative's form is showing signs of improvement with 3 consecutive wins before losing in the last 2 rounds. This season, Atalanta has won 2 out of 4 away matches.

Staffing crisis at Signal Iduna Park

Borussia Dortmund, the home team, is facing a serious personnel crisis, particularly in the defensive system. The list of absentees includes irreplaceable key players such as:

Nico Schlotterbeck:Muscle injury
Niklas Sule:Thigh injury
Emre Can:Injury to the groin area
F. Mane:Thigh injury
P. Drewes:Not competing

On Atalanta's side, their coach will also be without two key attacking players: Charles De Ketelaere (knee injury) and Giacomo Raspadori (thigh injury). De Ketelaere's absence will undoubtedly significantly impact the visitors' creativity and attacking play.

Head-to-head history and tactical predictions

In the past, the two teams met in the knockout round of the Europa League in 2018. On that occasion, Borussia Dortmund won 3-2 at home and drew 1-1 in Italy to advance. This gives the Ruhr-based team a certain psychological advantage.

Despite facing squad difficulties, Dortmund are still considered the favorites thanks to their home advantage at Signal Iduna Park – where they have won 2 out of their 3 matches this season. This is predicted to be a tight match, where the home team will strive to control the game and minimize errors from their makeshift defense.

Predict the result

Based on statistics, Borussia Dortmund's win rate is 35%, equivalent to the rate of a draw. Atalanta's chances of securing all three points are estimated at 30%. With both teams missing key strikers, a match with fewer than 2.5 goals is highly likely.

Team lineup updated at 02:30 on February 18, 2026

Official lineup