Key Takeaways:
- Borussia Dortmund recorded a 2-0 victory against Atalanta at Signal Iduna Park in their UEFA Champions League playoff round first leg
- Serhou Guirassy scored his 16th goal of the season and provided his 20th goal contribution with a goal and assist
- The second leg will take place in eight days with Dortmund holding a two-goal lead
Match Overview
Borussia Dortmund put themselves in the driving seat in their UEFA Champions League playoff tie, securing a convincing 2-0 win against Atalanta in the first leg at Signal Iduna Park. This marks only their second win in the last eight encounters (D3, L3) against Italian opponents in the competition.
The match’s start was pushed back by 15 minutes due to Dortmund’s bus arriving late amid traffic delays, but the hosts quickly put that behind them once proceedings began.
Vorgelegt! 💥👊
Souveräner Heimsieg im Hinspiel, in acht Tagen dann das Rematch in Norditalien! #UCL pic.twitter.com/pKdHAZ5iTb— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) February 17, 2026
Early Impact and First-Half Highlights
Dortmund wasted no time, finding the net within the opening two minutes. Julian Ryerson, who delivered all four assists in Friday’s 4-0 Bundesliga win against Mainz 05, provided a pinpoint cross for Serhou Guirassy. The club’s leading scorer made no mistake, heading in his 16th goal of the campaign across all competitions.
With both clubs aiming to prevent a third consecutive Champions League defeat, Atalanta nearly hit back midway through the first half. Mario Pasalic came within inches of scoring when he narrowly missed finishing Nicola Zalewski’s dangerous ball across the face of goal.
Ryerson’s early contribution increased his assist tally for the season to 14 in all competitions. He nearly added another when Waldemar Anton nodded over from the Norwegian’s free-kick delivery.
Dortmund did not have to wait long to double their advantage. Serhou Guirassy burst clear and unselfishly set up Maximilian Beier, who tapped home his second goal in as many matches, bringing Guirassy’s goal contributions to 20 (16 goals, 4 assists) in the campaign.
Second Half and Defensive Solidity
Atalanta’s confidence may have stemmed from scoring nine out of their 10 group stage goals after half-time. However, the initial stages of the second half brought little threat to Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
The German side looked closer to extending their lead, notably when Julian Brandt fired over from close range following a corner.
In the final phases, Niko Kovac’s side chose a more conservative approach, soaking up Atalanta’s pressure. Young defender Luca Reggiani, at just 18 years old, impressed as he completed a clean sheet on his UEFA Champions League debut.
| Team | Score | Goal scorers | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund | 2 | Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier | Julian Ryerson, Serhou Guirassy |
| Atalanta | 0 | – | – |
Looking Ahead
With this result, Dortmund head into the return fixture in eight days’ time firmly in control, aiming to progress from a two-legged tie against Italian opposition in the UEFA Champions League for the very first time in four attempts.
