Atalanta's vibrant attacking lineup fuels their hopes of securing a spot in the Champions League top eight. Meanwhile, Celtic’s thrashing on their trip to Borussia Dortmund (1:7) has exposed vulnerabilities in the squad, particularly with their high defensive line.
Even without five key players, Atalanta have looked impressive this season. The Bergamo club lead Serie A in xG (18.82 with 18 goals scored—both the best in the league). On Sunday, they secured an away win over Venezia (2:0), marking their third consecutive victory with a total of 10 goals scored across these matches. Against Shakhtar Donetsk (3:0) in the second round of the Champions League, the Italian side were flawless—quickly taking control of the game (2.07 vs 0.26 xG and 22-6 in shots), claiming a deserved win.
While Celtic dominate domestically, their stability doesn't translate to European competition. Their victory over Slovan Bratislava (5:1) was largely due to the opponent's weaknesses, and against Borussia Dortmund, the Scottish team made both team and individual errors. They conceded 2.80 xGA and 14 shots on target against the reigning Champions League finalists—a similar challenge awaits them against the recent Europa League winners.
In Bergamo, the fans will urge Atalanta to press Celtic from the outset. The hosts are just one step away from reaching the top eight.
