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Atalanta will be aware that their chances of progressing in this tie are slim, but they must build a platform to compete in the away leg, starting with this first match in front of their own supporters. They’ve seen both teams score in each of their last five games ahead of this one, and are without a win in their last three - with their two most recent outings both ending in 2-2 draws.

Bayern Munich, by contrast, have won each of their last five matches across all competitions, with three of those also featuring BTTS. Atalanta showed they can cause problems on their day by putting four past Dortmund in the home leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Niko Kovač’s side, and they’ll be confident of causing Bayern similar issues here. Bayern, for their part, may feel they have the firepower to overturn any deficit Atalanta manage to establish in this first leg.

Atalanta have seen BTTS in four of their five home Champions League games this season, including in victories over the likes of Chelsea and Dortmund. While Bayern Munich represent a significant step up in quality, Atalanta will know they need to push for at least one goal to have any real chance when they travel to the Allianz Arena next week.

Michael Olise can now be considered world class in my opinion, he didn’t actually have too much to do to get there after his displays for Bayern Munich last season - but the consistency to replicate those performances and numbers is now what makes him a truly elite player and one that Bayern can look to rely on here, with Harry Kane being a doubt for the game.

Olise has taken 25 shots across his seven appearances in the Champions League this term (3.57 per 90), with eight of those attempts finding the target (1.14 per 90). One aspect of his game that has improved under Vincent Kompany is his shot volume. Olise maintains a similar shot output in the Bundesliga (3.77 per 90) and is actually a bit better at finding the target domestically, with 38 of those efforts finding the target (51% shot accuracy).

Furthermore, Olise actually maintained the exact same shot average in the Champions League last season with 41 shots across his 13 starts in the competition (3.57 per 90). He should get chances here with Bayern likely to contest this clash without Harry Kane, which is a blow to their overall chances, but should allow for players like Olise to step up and fill that gap with at least one shot on target in this clash.

I’ve always found Upamecano to be a bit clumsy as a centre back for an elite side in Europe, he’s always had a bit of vulnerability about him, which usually comes to the fore in these sorts of matches. He’s got a decent foul record in the Champions League this season, and a decent opponent to try and draw that foul out of him.

Upamecano has committed nine fouls across his seven starts in the Champions League this season, working out to an average of 1.43 fouls committed per 90. This record has earned Upamecano two yellow cards in the Champions League, and he is usually left as one of the last lines of defence with Bayern pushing onto the opposition and playing with a high defensive line to allow their press to be effective.

Upamecano will be faced up by Gianluca Scamacca, who can be a real handful. He’s won eight fouls across his five starts in the Champions League this season (1.87 per 90), and will be able to cause Upamecano problems when Atalanta look to get the ball into him to hold up play and get the Italian side up the pitch. Upamecano’s centre back partner in Jonathan Tah is priced as low as 1.18 to commit a foul here, so taking the Frenchman at a slightly higher price seems a solid option. 

Atalanta are averaging 4.3 corners per game in the Champions League this season, and have covered this line in four of their five home matches in the competition. All four of those games saw Atalanta register at least five corners, which was the exact tally that they registered in beating Dortmund at home in the play-off tie to set up this intriguing clash.

Bayern Munich will dominate this game from open play, but Atalanta can get chances from set pieces. Four of Atlanta’s 14 goals in the Champions League this season have come from set pieces or penalties, which may not sound like a lot, but set pieces and penalties actually account for 44% of the total goals that Atalanta have scored in Serie A this season - showing just how much the Italian side have to rely on those avenues to goal. 

The way Atalanta approach this game from a tactical point of view also lends itself to a decent corner count, with the Serie A outfit likely to sit in a low-mid block and look to take their opportunities against Bayern when they emerge in transition. This usually involves running the channels, and Atalanta’s 3-4-3 structure gives them plenty of players in those wide areas that can win corners and offer them some relief.

Atalanta will know that they have a slim chance of coming through this tie, but must give themselves a platform to compete in the away leg, with this first leg being in front of their own supporters. Atalanta have seen BTTS in each of their last five matches ahead of this game, failing to win each of their last three games, with their last two matches ending in 2-2 draws.

Bayern Munich have won each of their last five matches across all competitions, with three of those games seeing BTTS. Atalanta managed to put four goals past Dortmund in the home leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Niko Kovac’s side, so they are capable of causing Bayern Munich problems here - who may feel as though they’ll be able to overcome any lead that Atalanta can establish in the first leg.

Atalanta have seen BTTS in four of their five home matches in the Champions League this season, including wins over the likes of Chelsea and Dortmund. Bayern Munich are a massive step up in terms of the quality of opposition, but Atalanta will need to push for at least a goal here to stand a chance in the clash against Bayern at the Allianz Arena next week.

Atalanta were able to complete an impressive turnaround in the previous round of the Champions League, as they overcame Dortmund in Bergamo. Going into the second leg with a 2-0 deficit, Atalanta knew they had to be front-footed, and Mario Pasalic played a key role in the comeback. The Croatian international completed the full 90 in midfield, and even scored the third goal of the game, which put Atalanta ahead. 

Pasalic comes into this clash in notable form, and has popped up with some crucial goals recently. He scored against Lazio last week in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, and even bagged against Napoli in the league. Pasalic has been the man for the big occasion in recent weeks, and he should keep his starting spot alongside Marten De Roon in midfield. The Dutchman is more defensive-minded in the partnership, which allows Pasalic to get forward into promising positions. 

Dortmund were the catalysts of their own downfall in the previous round of the Champions League, as they capitulated in Bergamo to squander a 2-0 lead from the first leg. Three of the four goals were very easily preventable, but it was Lazar Samardzic who delivered the hammer blow in the 98th minute from the penalty spot. Atalanta will once again hope for a positive result against a German side, although Bayern Munich will be a much tougher challenge.

The Bavarians have won seven of their eight Champions League matches this season - they finished 2nd in the league phase standings, and didn’t need a play-off fixture to progress to the round of 16. Despite their dominance, Michael Olise is averaging 1.99 fouls per 90 and has landed this selection in all seven of his starts on the European stage this term.