Borussia Dortmund is preparing to face Atalanta Bergamo in the Champions League playoffs, with a clear goal in mind to break what is known as the "curse of Italian teams," as the German team has historically struggled against clubs from Serie A.

The yellow and black club relies on its strength at its home stadium, Signal Iduna Park, where it is considered one of the strongest European teams on its home turf in recent years.

The meeting comes at a critical time for Dortmund, as their league position has dropped from sixth to seventeenth, forcing them to play a playoff to qualify for the round of 16.

On the other hand, Atalanta finished the same stage in fifteenth place after a series of fluctuating results, but it has been gaining European experience since 2017 and won the Europa League title in 2024.

This match represents Dortmund's third encounter with an Italian team this season, following an exciting 4-4 draw with Juventus and a 0-2 loss to Inter Milan, which underscores the difficulty of facing Italian representatives.

Dortmund aims to achieve a positive result in the first leg before playing the return match in Italy, recognizing the importance of securing qualification to ensure continued participation in the continental competition. The encounter with Bergamo remains a true test of the team's ambitions to return to the forefront of the Champions League and affirm its strength against Italian tactical schools.