Dortmund 2–0 Atalanta: German side dominate Champions League play-off first leg | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund took a commanding first step towards the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds, sweeping past Atalanta 2-0 with a ruthless first-half display at Signal Iduna Park.

Goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier seized control of the game early on, a half from which the visitors would simply never recover.

The Bergamo side, who have now lost their previous four knockout matches dating back to their exit at the quarter finals in 2019, were not able to break their ongoing curse on the European stage.

As it happened

In a tie laced with recent European history, with Dortmund edging a 4–3 aggregate victory over Atalanta in the 2018 Europa League, it was once again the German side who struck first and emphatically so.

The Yellow Wall barely had time to settle before the breakthrough arrived, a move that neatly encapsulated Dortmund’s early authority.

Die Schwarzgelben initially appeared to have spurned their opportunity when Felix Nmecha’s incisive pass towards the unmarked Julian Brandt inside the box was intercepted.

But Dortmund refused to let the moment pass. Recycling possession with composure, they shifted the ball wide to Julian Ryerson, who found space down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross that Guirassy powered home from close range, leaving Juan Musso with no chance.

Ryerson again stepped up when needed by die Borussen, continuing a fine run of form with yet another superb assist, adding to the four he recorded in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

As for Guirassy, the finish was entirely in keeping with his elite Champions League efficiency, as no player with 50 or more shots since his debut in October 2020 boasts a better conversion rate.

Atalanta, missing the injured Charles De Ketelaere – their leading contributor in goals, assists, chances created and dribbles in this season’s competition – attempted to respond with intensity.

Raffaele Palladino’s side pressed high and briefly unsettled the hosts, but their promising moments rarely translated into clear-cut chances, while Dortmund always looked the more decisive outfit.

That superiority told again just before the break. Guirassy, now turning provider, combined intelligently with Nmecha down the left before bursting into the penalty area.

His unselfish square pass across goal left Beier with the simplest of finishes, tapping into an empty net to double Dortmund’s advantage.

The hosts went into the break with a deserved lead, having caused Atalanta persistent problems across the pitch.

After racing ahead through Guirassy, Dortmund continued to torment the Italian backline, with Beier’s goal capping a dominant opening 45 minutes.

For Atalanta, the task looks daunting. La Dea side have lost each of their last five Champions League knockout matches and this performance offered little to suggest that run will be easy to halt.

Dortmund, meanwhile, appear well placed to buck their recent struggles against Italian opposition and carry genuine momentum into the second leg in Bergamo.

The second half saw Dortmund adopt a more measured approach, controlling the tempo and limiting Atalanta’s ability to build sustained pressure.

The visitors enjoyed greater spells of possession as they searched for a route back into the tie, but clear openings remained scarce against a well-organised Dortmund backline.

Atalanta threatened intermittently, particularly from set pieces and quick transitions, yet their efforts were met by calm, disciplined defending from the hosts, who appeared content to protect their advantage rather than overextend.

Dortmund, meanwhile, continued to carry a threat on the break, with Guirassy and Brandt stretching the Italian defence and forcing Atalanta to remain cautious.

As the match wore on, the tempo dipped and the contest settled into a controlled rhythm that suited the home side.

Dortmund saw out the closing stages with relative comfort, ensuring they head to Bergamo with a two-goal cushion and a clean sheet that could prove decisive in the context of the tie.

The second leg takes place in Bergamo on Wednesday the 25th February (17:30 GMT).

Analysis: Dortmund seize momentum as Atalanta’s European woes deepen

This felt like more than just a strong first leg, it felt like a statement. Dortmund entered the play-off with only one win in their last seven Champions League matches against Italian sides, yet from the opening minutes they played with clarity and conviction. Niko Kovač’s side were aggressive without being reckless, fluid in possession and clinical when it mattered.

The Ryerson–Guirassy axis proved decisive. Ryerson’s attacking output from full-back continues to redefine Dortmund’s right flank, while Guirassy’s blend of physicality and efficiency makes him one of the competition’s most reliable finishers. His assist for Beier’s goal was just as impressive as his opener.

Atalanta’s problems, however, ran deeper than missing De Ketelaere. Their usually well-drilled press was repeatedly bypassed, and defensively they struggled to cope with Dortmund’s movement between the lines. With a troubling recent record in Champions League knockouts, confidence may already be fragile.

The tie is far from over, but Dortmund have shifted the pressure firmly onto the Italian side. If Atalanta are to overturn this deficit at home, they will need a performance that challenges both their recent history and Dortmund’s growing belief.