Borussia Dortmund secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs on Tuesday evening.
As soon as the match started, the German side established a clear rhythm. In the third minute, Serhou Guirassy scored after a sharp delivery from the right side; he met the ball in the center and headed in the opener. The early goal gave Dortmund a psychological edge, even as the Italians became slightly bolder as the game progressed.
Atalanta showed some promising early moments after about twenty minutes, but their shots lacked accuracy and the team struggled to finish. Dortmund, meanwhile, looked for counter‑attacking opportunities. Just before the break, Maximilian Beier sealed the win. Guirassy had moved to the left side to deliver a flat pass in front of the goal, and Beier angled the finish from close range, bringing the score to 2-0.
With the two‑point advantage, Niko Kovác’s team dominated the second half after the switch of ends. Atalanta increased the pressure, yet they found few chances against the tight German defence. Several potential penalty situations arose on both sides, but officials did not award any corner‑kick or penalty conversions, and the hosts’ disciplined blocking prevented clear opportunities for the visitors.
In the final minutes, Dortmund calmly protected their lead. Even after making personnel changes and producing occasional attacks, Atalanta could not bring the match closer. The 2‑0 result leaves Dortmund in a strong position heading into the second leg.