- Atalanta sit around 7th in Serie A and have shown a mixed bag of results in Serie A.
- Gianluca Scamacca leads Atalanta’s line as their top scorer, delivering crucial goals in both Serie A and Europe this season.
- Atalanta stunned Borussia Dortmund 4 - 1 at home to reach the Champions League Round of 16.
A tactical clash of styles at New Balance Arena
Atalanta Bergamo and FC Bayern Munich meet in the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever in what could be the start of an exciting new European rivalry in the Round of 16. Atalanta’s young boss Raffaele Palladino has brought a proactive style of play to the club based around high-pressing, possession and transitions.
Bayern’s boss Vincent Kompany has instilled a structured form of possession soccer with high-pressing and tactical flexibility to allow his team to dominate domestically and consistently perform in Europe. Bayern’s squad depth will allow for rotation, but Manuel Neuer’s experience and organisation at the back could be decisive in a pressure cooker European night.
Gianluca Scamacca is in fine form as Atalanta’s focal point of attack. Éderson and Mario Pašalić have been key in the transitions, but Éderson’s fitness is a story to follow through until Tuesday’s first leg.
Bayern’s attacking potency is usually generated by Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, the creative spark and maestro of Bayern’s tempo, respectively. Musiala provides goals, but Kimmich’s passes make things happen. Harry Kane is Bayern’s talisman and top goal scorer, but his calf knock will have to be monitored as he’s often the difference between a win and a draw.
Expect a cracking first leg
Atalanta are a dangerous side at home in European competitions as they’ve shown in the past, and their high-pressing, transition-based style will make them a live underdog in the knock-out stage. They are prone to streaky play, however, and their dramatic comeback against Borussia Dortmund was followed up by a disappointing defeat at Sassuolo in the league.
Bayern Munich are the clear favourites here at 61/100, with Atalanta coming in as minnows at 71/20 and a draw is priced at 333/100. Atalanta could very well get caught out by Bayern’s firepower and squad depth here, but a positive result in Bergamo is crucial for both clubs. The intensity of the New Balance atmosphere and slick surface are likely to favour an open, attacking game and a Bayern win with both teams to score & over 2.5 goals at 12/25 & 11/25, respectively, seems likely.
