Pre-Match Report
UEFA Champions League: the ticker for the trip to Bergamo
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
On the agenda today:
- Final training in Dortmund
- Flight to Bergamo
- Press conference in the Stadio di Bergamo
+++ Press conference with Niko Kovac and Jobe Bellingham +++
Upon arrival at the stadium, they proceed directly to the stage. The journalists are already present and pose their questions to Niko Kovac and Jobe Bellingham. “We're definitely not coming here to manage the game and the result. That won't get us anywhere,” said Kovac, who announced: “We want to try to impose our own game.” If BVB manage to “score a goal, then we'll have a lot more confidence.” The head coach described the 2-0 lead from the first leg as “a good result, but nothing more. That's why we'll clearly focus on our game. We have to be sharp and we have to be good, and if we want to advance to the next round, we need to push ourselves to the limit. And the limit is always 100%.” Further statements can be found in the detailed pre-match report.
+++ Buongiorno da Bergamo +++
After just over an hour, the plane carrying the players and staff has arrived in Italy. It is actually a few degrees colder here than in Germany. Most of the passengers are now on their way to the hotel, where dinner is probably already waiting for them. For Niko Kovac and Jobe Bellingham, however, the first stop is tomorrow's venue, where the press conference will take place.
+++ Arrival at the airport +++
The BVB players have arrived at Dortmund Airport. Check-in, baggage drop-off, security check – and now the players and staff are sitting on the team plane. This is the squad, with two players returning! The flight over the Alps is expected to take around an hour. We are now switching our mobile phones to flight mode.
+++ Media round with Lars Ricken +++
At the airport, Lars Ricken answered questions from the media and called for a bold approach. “The win puts us in a good position, but if anyone thinks we're in a comfortable situation, they could be in for a rude awakening. Atalanta will be aggressive,” said the sporting director. More statements available here.
+++ Two players back in training +++
We are at the training ground in Dortmund-Brackel, where Borussia are completing their final training session. And who do we see? Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, who have been injured recently, are joining their teammates on the pitch. However, it is yet to be decided whether they will be on the plane to Italy.
There are more images in the image gallery.
+++ BVB all in yellow +++
BVB will be wearing their international Cup Kit – yellow shirt, yellow shorts, yellow socks. (Get yours now!) Atalanta will be wearing a blue-and-black striped shirt, black shorts and black socks.
+++ Information for away travellers +++
Meeting point in the city, travel information, away section – as always, all BVB fans who are in Bergamo will find all the information they need about the match in the fan information article.
+++ Good morning from Dortmund +++
The day before the match, also known as MD-1 in football jargon. The schedule? Always similar. Today, Borussia Dortmund will start with their final training session at noon at their home ground in Dortmund-Brackel. As always, the first 15 minutes are open to the media. Afterwards, the BVB entourage will make their way to Dortmund Airport to fly to Italy. While most of the team will head to their hotel after landing, Niko Kovac and Jobe Bellingham will travel to the Stadio di Bergamo for a press conference (live on BVB TV). And we'll take you every step of the way!