dortmund vs atalanta: Guirassy stars as Dortmund dispatch Atalanta in first leg
Borussia Dortmund claimed a solid 2-0 advantage in their Champions League knockout playoff first leg, with Serhou Guirassy scoring and creating the goals in a home win that began 15 minutes late after the hosts were delayed en route to the stadium. Dortmund dominated large spells and head to the return leg holding a two-goal lead and momentum.
Guirassy impact: early header and creative spark
The match was postponed by 15 minutes and kicked off at 3: 15pm ET after Dortmund encountered traffic problems getting to the stadium. That shaky start did nothing to blunt the home side’s intensity. Inside three minutes, Serhou Guirassy rose highest to meet a cross from Julian Ryerson and power a header past the goalkeeper for his 16th goal of the season. The strike continued the forward’s rich Champions League form; he has now found the net multiple times in this campaign’s European fixtures.
Guirassy did more than score. In the 42nd minute he switched roles and supplied the decisive assist, whipping a precise cross into the box that Maximilian Beier met at the back post to double Dortmund’s lead. The early goal and the pre-halftime finish gave the hosts control and left Atalanta with a steep deficit to overturn in the second leg.
Dortmund control, Atalanta unable to test keeper
After the break, Atalanta enjoyed more possession but rarely translated that control into genuine opportunities. Dortmund’s defensive shape and the presence of their goalkeeper ensured that Atalanta struggled to create clear-cut chances, and the visitors were unable to really threaten to reduce the deficit. The German side’s ability to protect their lead without panic was a key feature of the night.
For Atalanta, the result compounds the challenge they face in Europe; recent Champions League knockout outings have been difficult, and this loss hands the initiative to Dortmund. The visitors will need a marked improvement in penetration and finishing when the tie resumes to keep their hopes alive.
What’s next: return leg and remaining questions
The second leg is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25 at 12: 30pm ET in Bergamo. With a two-goal cushion, Dortmund can consider tactical flexibility in the return, but the tie is far from over — Atalanta have history of resilience in cup competitions and will view the home fixture as a chance to force the tie back into contention.
Questions remain around squad fitness and selection for both sides. Dortmund had to call on younger options due to defensive absences in recent matches, and how the manager manages rotations ahead of the return will influence the tie’s trajectory. Atalanta must sharpen their attacking threat and find greater accuracy in the final third to threaten a comeback.
On this night, however, Dortmund earned the right to travel with a lead. Guirassy’s early header and his assist for Beier proved decisive — a tidy, efficient display that hands the hosts momentum heading into next week’s crucial rematch in Bergamo.
