Borussia Dortmund have won six consecutive Bundesliga matches but have gone three games without a Champions League win. Coach Niko Kovac stresses the need to translate 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 lifted the Europa League last year, will test Dortmund’s defensive depth in a high‑intensity tie.