In the first match of the Champions League play-off round, Borussia Dortmund defeated Atalanta Bergamo 2-0 at home. The hero of the evening was Serhou Guirassy, who opened the scoring in the third minute and later assisted Maximilian Beier's goal. Despite the ambitious performance of Nicola Zalewski, the Italian visitors failed to recover the deficit ahead of the return leg scheduled for February 25 in Bergamo.

Lightning-fast Opening Goal

Already in the 3rd minute of the match, Serhou Guirassy put Borussia in the lead, capitalizing on a cross from Julian Ryerson.

Maximilian Beier Extends the Lead

Just before the end of the first half, in the 42nd minute, Maximilian Beier scored the second goal after an assist from the in-form Guirassy.

Nicola Zalewski's Performance

Polish representative Nicola Zalewski played 82 minutes for Atalanta, being one of the most active offensive players for the team from Bergamo.

Communication Problems Before the Match

Due to a concert taking place near Signal Iduna Park, there was a traffic paralysis, which delayed the teams' arrival at the stadium.

Despite initial communication chaos and delays caused by traffic difficulties around the stadium, Borussia Dortmund presented themselves as an extremely mature and effective team. Already in the 3rd minute of the match, the hosts took the lead after a precise cross delivered by Julian Ryerson, which was converted into a goal with a header by the reliable Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean striker confirmed his excellent form, not only by scoring but also by actively participating in building attacking plays. Atalanta Bergamo, led by Raffaele Palladino, tried to respond with quick attacks but lacked effectiveness in finishing near the opponent's goal. Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta Bergamo are clubs with different historical characteristics; BVB has regularly participated in the knockout stages of the Champions League since the 1990s, while Atalanta became a regular participant in European competitions only in the last decade under the leadership of Gian Piero Gasperini.In the 42nd minute of the match, Dortmund increased their lead to 2-0. Once again, Guirassy played a key role, this time providing the assist for Maximilian Beier, who confidently placed the ball in the net. In the second half, the visiting coach made several substitutions, bringing on players such as Isak Hien and Nikola Krstović, which somewhat revitalized the Italian team's play. Polish winger Nicola Zalewski played 82 minutes and was one of the brighter spots for his team, creating good opportunities for his teammates, which, however, were not converted into goals. „We want to show that the Champions League is our competition. I am counting on a victory that will bring us closer to our goal.” — Lars RickenUltimately, the match ended with a two-goal victory for BVB, placing the team from the Ruhr region in a comfortable position ahead of the return match. Niko Kovač, the coach of Borussia, can be satisfied with the tactical discipline of his players, especially in the defensive formation, where Waldemar Anton received a yellow card but effectively stopped the Italians' attacks. Atalanta will have to rise to the heights of their abilities in Bergamo to recover the deficit and secure advancement to the Round of 16 of the elite competition. 125 seconds — Serhou Guirassy needed to score the first goal[{"side1": "Borussia Dortmund", "side2": "Atalanta Bergamo", "score1": 2, "score2": 0, "round": "Play-off"}][{"dateISO": "2026-02-17", "date": "February 17, 2026", "event": "First leg in Dortmund"}, {"dateISO": "2026-02-25", "date": "February 25, 2026", "event": "Return leg in Bergamo"}]

Mentioned People

  • Serhou Guirassy — Borussia Dortmund striker, scorer of a goal and provider of an assist in the match against Atalanta.
  • Nicola Zalewski — Polish footballer playing for Atalanta Bergamo, he played for 82 minutes in the match.
  • Niko Kovač — Borussia Dortmund coach, who led the team to victory in the Champions League.