Borussia Dortmund open this Thursday, February 15, their participation in the 2017/2018 edition of the Europa League. At Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, they host Atalanta in the first round of the competition’s first round. The start of the match is scheduled for 16h (BrasÃlia time).
From now on, all stages of the tournament will be set in round-robin games until the two finalists are known. In case of equality of number of points conquered at the end of the two matches, the tiebreaker to be made according to the goal balance or the number of goals scored away from home. The second match between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund was scheduled for February 22 in Bergamo.
The recent performance of Borussia Dortmund
After a first half of turbulent season, Borussia Dortmund still did not lose in 2018. After the resumption of the German Championship after the period of winter break, won two matches and drew three. It’s obviously not a spectacular performance, but it was enough to put the team in third place in the Bundesliga.
With 37 points (ten wins, seven draws and five defeats), he is one point behind Leipzig, the leader. Second place is the maximum to be desired in the dispute, since Bayern shot ahead with 56 points.
Dortmund came to impress at the start of the season that could challenge the Bavarians. He came to lead the Bundesliga in the opening rounds, but performance bumped into a relationship crisis. Dutch coach Petr Bosz, who was hired for Thomas Tuchel’s place after being runner-up to the European League with Ajax last season, was questioned by the cast for giving Gabon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a treatment.
The other players in the group did not like the lack of punishment for the indiscipline acts committed by the athlete, who began to miss meetings and delay for training after having his request to let the club be refused in the window of transfers of summer.
Bosz was eventually fired and after much controversy Aubameyang achieved his goal. It was sold to Arsenal in the winter transfer period. With peace settled in Dortmund, the Austrian Peter Stoger tries to put the team in the rails. Made some progress in the Bundesliga. Now, try to show the same in continental competition.
In the first round, it was in the Champions League of Europe that the Dortmund promoted a great vexation. Not only was eliminated in a group that had Tottenham and Real Madrid, which might even be acceptable, but of the 18 points played conquered only two. Without a single win, he advanced by having a slightly better goal balance than Apoel.
The current form of Atalanta
The Atalanta did not have as many oscillations as the Dortmund, but neither does an extraordinary season. In the Italian League, he drew 1-1 with Crotone on Saturday, 10 February, at his rival’s home. He has 37 points (ten wins, seven draws and seven losses). It’s in eighth place.
His only viable goal in the final stretch of the tournament is to seek a berth in the next edition of the Europa League if he can not win the title this year and have the right to play in the Champions League. In that case, you must complete the first six. With four points more, Sampdoria closes the block of classified.
In the Italian Cup, the team reached the semifinals but is in a difficult situation. He lost the first match in Bergamo to Juventus, by 1 to 0. Now, it will have to look for a turn in the stadium of the rival.
His best performance was even in the Europa League. Got the top spot in Group E without major problems. He reached 14 points (four wins and two draws). He overcame Lyon (11), Everton (four) and Apollon (three).
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has doubts about starting players for Thursday’s game. The defender Mattia Caldara (17 matches in the 2017/2018 Italian Championship, three goals) and midfielder Alejandro Gomez (19 matches, four goals) are in the process of recovering from injury.
History of the bouts between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta
The only time the teams went head-to-head was in the friendly held at the beginning of the current season. Atalanta won 1-0.
The recent improvement in performance based mainly on a stronger defensive solidity makes Borussia Dortmund the best guessing option for the 1.70 showdown on Bet365. Tie pays 3.60 and success of the Italian multiplies the investment by 5.00. Quotes were in effect at 13:42 on 12/2/2018.