The clash between Barcelona and Atalanta in the final round of the Champions League group stage stands out due to the quality of players on both sides. Neither Hansi Flick nor Gian Piero Gasperini will abandon their aggressive tactical styles, which are likely to create chances and errors at both ends of the pitch.
Unlike their opponents, Barcelona have already secured their spot in the round of 16. Their thrilling 5:4 victory over Benfica in Lisbon was their sixth consecutive win in the tournament. Another high-scoring spectacle saw Barcelona register 3.63 xG with 11 shots on target. Raphinha Dias Belloli (8+3) and Robert Lewandowski (9+0) are leading the Champions League scoring charts, while the team’s recent 7:1 demolition of Valencia on Sunday marked their 13th dominant victory of the season.
While Atalanta may not shine as brightly on the global stage as Barcelona, Gian Piero Gasperini continues to extract maximum performance from his squad. The Italian side boasts the second-best goal difference in the Champions League (+13). Their recent 5:0 victory over Sturm Graz was a masterclass, with Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman both contributing a goal and an assist in the second half. Atalanta generated a massive 5.34 xG with 25 shots in that match, thoroughly overwhelming the Austrian champions.
Atalanta have been prolific on the road, scoring 11 goals in their three away fixtures in the Champions League—second only to Barcelona’s 14. Across seven Champions League matches, Barcelona have exceeded a total of 3.5 goals five times, making the total over 3.5 goals an excellent betting choice.
