Atalanta vs Bayern Munich – News and Probable Lineups

As the competition for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals heats up, Atalanta BC will face Bayern Munich in Bergamo on Tuesday evening.

While Bayern advanced comfortably to the round of 16, La Dea pulled off a thrilling victory over another German club to secure their spot through the playoffs.

Match overview

Known for their European feats, Atalanta performed a remarkable comeback in this year’s initial knockout phase, bouncing back from a two-goal first-leg loss.

Despite facing challenging odds, they managed to restore parity by the sixty-minute mark of an exciting return fixture in Bergamo, only for Borussia Dortmund to equalize the contest at 3-3.

A penalty was awarded to La Dea during the dying moments of the match, which Lazar Samardzic converted decisively, securing advancement to the round of 16.

As the last Italian team remaining in this year’s tournament, Atalanta has built a commendable reputation on the continental stage, and as the 2024 Europa League champions, they aim for deeper progress.

However, aside from a 4-1 win at home last month, the Nerazzurri have lost six of their last seven matches in the knockout phase, averaging two goals conceded per game over the past nine elimination encounters.

Moreover, after defeating Dortmund, Raffaele Palladino’s squad has struggled: he was awarded Serie A’s coach of the month in February, but since then, they have managed just one point from two league matches and drew 2-2 with Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final’s first leg.

Atalanta’s initial league defeat of 2026 – against a ten-man Sassuolo – had already dampened hopes of a top-four finish, and another slip-up occurred during the weekend.

Against mid-table Udinese, they conceded goals on either side of halftime, but rallied back to claim a last-minute draw: Gianluca Scamacca headed home from Nicola Zalewski’s cross to pull one back, before the Italian striker scored the equalizer just three minutes later.

Now, the team from Bergamo returns to continental competition, having faced German sides 14 times previously with only three losses – including a victory in their Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen – yet their first encounter with Bayern Munich could present their biggest challenge so far.

Bayern’s record this season boasts 35 victories and only two setbacks from 40 matches in all competitions, with their sole defeats in UEFA’s premier event coming against Arsenal.

The reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Club World Cup winners, Chelsea, have both been dispatched, as Die Roten secured seven wins out of eight during the league phase.

Typically, Bayern elevate their performance in the early knockout rounds, having won 10 and only lost one of their last 12 fixtures in the round of 16.

Currently, the Bavarian side enjoys the highest goals-per-game rate in the Champions League knockout phase, and their prolific form this season indicates they may continue in this fashion.

With a staggering tally of 92 league goals, they are just nine short of the Bundesliga’s all-time seasonal record with nine fixtures remaining, and recently, they have claimed victory in their past six games across competitions.

On course for yet another Meisterschale, they’ve also advanced to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals, and hopeful supporters might be dreaming of a treble.

Like La Dea, Bayern triumphed over Dortmund in a five-goal thriller last month; however, Kompany opted for seven changes to the lineup that secured victory in Der Klassiker for their Friday match against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Even without Harry Kane in the squad, strikes from Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Konrad Laimer, and Nicolas Jackson propelled them to a 4-1 win against 10-man Gladbach at home, providing the ideal preparation for their upcoming venture to Lombardy.

Team News

Atalanta’s head coach Palladino is optimistic about the return of Ederson for Tuesday’s first leg, and captain Marten De Roon is expected to feature after receiving a rare rest against Udinese, but the hosts will still be without several players.

Giorgio Scalvini is serving a UEFA suspension, while Giacomo Raspadori has only recently resumed training, and key playmaker Charles De Ketelaere remains out with a knee injury.

The latter has been involved in six goals and created 20 chances during the league phase; since De Ketelaere’s first Champions League appearance for the club, Atalanta has averaged an extra 0.9 goals per game from open play when he starts.

Even though they played together during the latter half of Saturday’s Serie A comeback, Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic will compete for the role to lead La Dea’s attack. Scamacca has scored in his last three Champions League home games, including a brace over the weekend.

Bayern’s star player Kane was rested on Friday due to a minor calf issue, yet Kompany has hinted at a swift return for the England international.

Kane has been directly linked to 33 goals in as many Champions League matches for Die Roten, the highest of any player in Europe since the start of the 2023-24 season.

Concerns also surround captain Manuel Neuer, who missed two matches before being substituted by Jonas Urbig during the win over Gladbach; Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies are both out of action.

Atalanta BC probable starting XI:

Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Pasalic, Bernasconi; Samardzic, Zalewski; Scamacca

Bayern Munich probable starting XI:

Urbig; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Diaz; Four

Although Atalanta often exceeds expectations in Europe, they have been vulnerable defensively in recent matches and may struggle to keep Bayern at bay for a full ninety minutes.

The German champions are likely to score at least twice to take an advantage into next week’s return leg in Bavaria.