Dortmund in Bergamo: Inácio dispute and fan boycott put dortmund on edge
dortmund heads to Bergamo tonight for the Champions League return, where the match’s unusually early kickoff and two off-field flashpoints — a transfer dispute over Samuele Inácio and a partial fan boycott prompted by police measures — add fresh stakes to a tie the visitors lead 2-0 from the first leg.
Dortmund match set for early kickoff
The return is scheduled to begin at 6: 45 p. m. ET, earlier than the usual Champions League window. The timing means many viewers used to a later kickoff will need to tune in earlier to watch the decisive 90 minutes in Bergamo. Dortmund arrives with a 2-0 cushion from the first leg, with Serhou Guirassy and Maxi Beier having supplied the goals that put them in position to advance.
Atalanta raises Inácio transfer concerns
Tensions between the clubs center on the transfer of Samuele Inácio from Atalanta’s youth setup to Dortmund. Atalanta’s chairman publicly described the situation as severe and said the club has taken the matter to the sport’s governing body. He also said an arranged lunch between club leaders was called off by the Italians but that he nonetheless met with Dortmund’s managing director to explain Atalanta’s position.
Dortmund’s sporting director has expressed bewilderment at the timing of the criticism. He stressed that Inácio has been with Dortmund for one and a half years, that transfers of minors must follow strict rules and documentation, and that the governing body has confirmed to Dortmund that the club’s paperwork was in order. Which specific wrongdoing Atalanta alleges has not been made clear.
Ultras of dortmund boycott after police measures
Off the field, a portion of Dortmund’s active fanbase is staying away from the match in Bergamo. The decision followed indications that some Dortmund supporters were denied exit to Italy and others were visited in their hotel rooms by Italian police, measures the club has criticized as disproportionate. The active supporters’ scene chose to boycott the fixture in response to those interventions.
The absence of part of the traveling support is an added complication for Dortmund on a night already heavy with tension. Club officials have publicly criticized the policing actions while the fans’ decision to boycott amplifies the sense of unease around the tie.
What comes next for BVB
On the pitch, the immediate objective is straightforward: protect the two-goal advantage over 90 minutes in Bergamo. If Dortmund progresses from the play-off round, they would face a much tougher path in the knockout stage; the field of potential opponents includes last-season domestic and international front-runners. The draw for the next round is scheduled to take place on the Friday following the fixture.
Off the pitch, the Inácio dispute remains unresolved. The clubs have publicly exchanged criticisms and documentation has been cited; the precise allegations remain unclear and are described as having been brought before the sport’s governing authority. How the governing authority responds, or whether the clubs reach any private resolution, will determine whether the matter fades or continues to color the rivalry.
Key immediate indicators to watch: Dortmund’s team selection and defensive shape for the 90 minutes in Bergamo; whether the club or the governing authority issues further statements; and whether the fan situation affects travel or policing plans for future fixtures.
