Borussia Dortmund have won six consecutive Bundesliga matches but have gone three games without a Champions League win. Coach Niko Kovac wants to translate that domestic form into the play‑off against Atalanta, while four centre‑backs – Emre Can, Filippo Mane, Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck – are sidelined.
Atalanta finished 15th in Serie A and won 3‑0 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the group stage. The Italian side, who finished the league phase with four wins and three defeats, will test Dortmund’s defensive depth in a high‑stakes tie.