UCL: Dortmund Take 2-0 Lead Over Atalanta

Guirassy & Beier send Dortmund ahead 

Dortmund claim win over Atalanta in Champions League playoff round. Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 in the UCL, with Guirassy and Beier scoring.

Atalanta could take comfort in the fact that nine of their 10 goals in the league phase came after half-time...

Dortmund grabbed a 2-0 lead into the second leg against Atalanta. They've only won 2 of their last 8 matches (D3, L3) against Italian teams in the UCL.

The team bus was late, delaying kick-off by 15 minutes, but Dortmund made a lightning-quick start.

Dortmund's top scorer, Serhou Guirassy, opened the scoring just two minutes in, heading home a Julian Ryerson cross, his 16th goal of the season. This followed Guirassy's impressive performance in Dortmund's 4-0 win over Mainz 05 on Friday, where Ryerson claimed all four assists.

Atalanta pushed hard for an equalizer, with Mario Pasalic coming close to scoring midway through the half, but Dortmund held firm. Both teams aimed to avoid a third successive defeat in the competition.

Ryerson’s early assist took his tally for the campaign to 14 in all competitions, and he should have had another when Waldemar Anton headed over from the Norwegian’s free-kick.

Dortmund did double the lead moments later, though, as Guirassy made it 20 goal contributions in all tournaments (G16, A4) for the campaign when he raced clear and squared for Maximilian Beier to tap home his second goal in as many games. 

Atalanta could take comfort in the fact that nine of their 10 goals in the league phase came after half-time, but the early stages of the second half followed a familiar pattern as they failed to trouble Gregor Kobel.

Dortmund take control in the first leg 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/GcpF5RY6CZ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 17, 2026

Instead, the hosts looked more likely to score next as Dortmund captain Julian Brandt sliced over the crossbar from close range when a corner fell his way.

Dortmund sat back, soaking up pressure, with 18-year-old Luca Reggiani impressive on his UCL debut. They've got a commanding lead ahead of the second leg.

Dortmund's confident of progressing against Italian opposition for the first time in four attempts.