The draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League is now complete and the only Italian team, Atalanta, have been informed that they will face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the last 16. Here’s everything you should know about La Dea’s Bavarian rivals.
Atalanta vs Bayern: Everything you need to know
Champions League format
Bayern Munich is the second strongest team in the league stage. Their 7-1 record puts them second only to Arsenal, who have a 100% winning record in eight games in the first phase of the 2025-26 season.
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The aforementioned Arsenal is the only team to have defeated Bayern in the Champions League so far this season. Vincent Kompany’s side have beaten Chelsea, Paphos, Club Brugge, PSG, Sporting Lisbon, United Saint-Gillois and PSV Eindhoven so far this season.
MUNICH, GERMANY – JANUARY 21: Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane celebrates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league stage MD7 match between Bayern Munich and R. Union Saint-Gilloise at the Football Arena in Munich, Germany on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Bayern also has the second-highest number of goals in the league stage (tied with Barcelona) with 22 goals. Once again, only Arsenal are better than the Bavarians, with 23 goals in eight league stage games.
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key person
England captain Harry Kane is Bayern’s brightest star at the moment. The former Tottenham Hotspur man has scored an astonishing 43 goals and provided five assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, including eight goals in eight Champions League games.
MUNICH, GERMANY – JANUARY 21: Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane celebrates after scoring during the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League stage MD7 match between Bayern Munich and R. Union Saint-Gilloise at the Football Arena in Munich, Germany on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Bayern also has world-class attacking talents in Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala, who are expected to play as a winger and No. 10 respectively in their last-16 clash with Atalanta. Vice-captain Joshua Kimmich will also feature in his side’s midfield role. ‘Sexel’ Role.
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head to head recording
This will be the first time Atalanta and Bayern meet in an official match.
Atalanta have an impressive record against German opponents dating back to the 2023-24 season. They have played five matches against Bundesliga opponents in the past three seasons and won four of them: against Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, and in the 2024 Europa League final against Leverkusen.
During the same period, Bayern only faced two Italian opponents: Inter Milan and Lazio. Surprisingly, Bayern have only won one of their past four games against Serie A opponents, against Lazio in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2024. They also lost once against the Blue Eagles in the Champions League quarter-finals last season and had a draw and a loss against Inter Milan.
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When do Atalanta and Bayern face each other?
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: The UEFA Champions League trophy is displayed on a plinth on the side of the pitch before the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League round 16 second leg match between Inter Milan and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)
Round of 16 first leg: Tuesday 10 March 2026 @ 20:00 GMT (at New Balance Arena)
Round of 16 second leg: Wednesday 18 March @ 20:00 GMT (Allianz Arena)
Quarter-final first leg: Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8
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Quarter-final second leg: Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15
Semi-final first leg: Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29
Semi-final second leg: Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6
Potential lineup
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Atalanta’s Sead Kolasinac celebrates after the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout second leg second leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)
Atlanta (3-4-2-1): Caneseki; Scalvini, Sheen, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, Drone, Ederson, Bernardosconi; Pasalic, Samardzic; Krstovic/Skamarca.
Bayern (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovich; Olise, Musiala, Diaz; Kane.
