Atalanta chief executive Luca Percassi joked that he and his colleagues “had to go hungry” after Borussia Dortmund decided not to attend their usual lunch ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League play-off final between the two teams.
Before a Champions League match, it is customary for each club’s board of directors to sit down for lunch on the day of the match.
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However, that has not happened in any of the play-off games between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund, as there remains a feud between the two sides following teenager Samuel Inacio’s move to the Bundesliga side from Bergamo in 2024.
“Unfortunately we didn’t have lunch so we were hungry,” shrugged Perkasie, speaking to Sky Sport Italia ahead of the Atalanta-Borussia Dortmund kick-off.
“We were hoping they would take the opportunity to have a conversation, but that didn’t happen. We moved on.”
You can follow updates from Wednesday night’s Champions League match on the Italian Football Live Blog.
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Perkasie on Atalanta vs. Dortmund decider
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha holds the ball under pressure from Atalanta’s Maarten Drone during the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout second leg second leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio Bergamo, Italy on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)
Perkasie went on to discuss the support he felt from Atalanta fans in the Champions League decider against Borussia Dortmund.
“From the moment we boarded the bus to the city and arrived at the stadium at the Zingonia training camp, we felt the passion of the fans,” Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.
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“This is a decisive factor for us and it is a pity that we have not been able to rely on fans in away games recently. Hopefully we can face these issues in dialogue with institutions, including the upcoming Coppa Italia semi-finals, because football is not the same without fans.”
Regarding the match itself, he added: “It will be a very difficult and complex match, but we know how competitive the Champions League is. The result tonight will be historic again for the club.”
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Atalanta’s Nicola Zalewski is challenged by Borussia Dortmund’s Waldemar Anton during their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout round first leg match at the BVB Arena in Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Paul Barrena/Getty Images)
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“It’s already amazing that we’re here, so we’re going to enjoy this moment with the spirit of Atlanta and hopefully have no regrets.
“Our approach will not change from season to season. The goal is to secure Serie A as quickly as possible. This is not just empty talk, but what we really think.”
“Obviously the ability to invest in recent years has given us hope of achieving goals beyond that, but we see in this sport that big investments don’t always lead to big results.
“They might let you sign important players who can theoretically make a difference, but they still have to come to terms with the rest of the squad and translate the investment into results on the pitch.
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“We are very humble because we know where we stand and where we come from. Last week we played in one of the biggest stadiums in Europe with a capacity of 82,000 people and you realize it’s different to our own reality.
“We want to make as few mistakes as possible, stay grounded and remember that what Atalanta has achieved in recent years is precisely because we combined humility with ambition and determination.”