Borussia Dortmund have a long history of facing Italian clubs in European competition and have played against opposition from Serie A more often than any other league. In knockout ties with Italian clubs, BVB have emerged victorious three times but have been knocked out on seven occasions. Here we bring you the match facts.

The scenario: Borussia Dortmund qualified for the UEFA Europa League after finishing third in their UEFA Champions League group, while Atalanta won UEFA Europa League group E without losing a single game. The two clubs have never met before in European competition. Borussia Dortmund are winless in eight matches at European level (two draws, six defeats) and have lost three of their last four matches in front of their own fans.

The record: Borussia Dortmund have previously faced Italian opposition 31 times, winning ten, drawing four and losing 17. In knockout ties, BVB lost to AC Milan in 1957/58 (1-1 draw and 4-1 loss), Inter Milan in 1963/64 (2-2 draw and 2-0 loss), Sampdoria in 1989/90 (1-1 draw and 2-0 loss), Inter Milan in 1993/94 (3-1 loss and 2-1 win), Juventus in 1994/95 (UEFA Cup semi-final, 2-2 draw and 2-1 loss), Udinese in 2008/09 (2-0 loss and 2-0 win) and Juventus again in 2014/15 (2-1 and 3-0 defeats). BVB beat Roma in 1992/93 (1-0 defeat and 2-0 win), Lazio in 1994/95 (1-0 defeat and 2-0 win) and AC Milan in 2001/02 (UEFA Cup semi-final, 4-0 win and 3-1 loss). In addition, there have been two finals with Juventus: BVB lost a two-legged UEFA Cup final in 1993 (3-1 and 3-0 losses), but beat the same opponents 3-1 in the 1997 UEFA Champions League final.

Atalanta's only previous meeting with German opposition came in 1990/91, which was the last time they took part in European competition. That year they beat 1. FC Köln by an aggregate score of 2-1 in the third round of the UEFA Cup (1-1 draw away and 1-0 win at home).

History: The Black & Yellows reached the quarter-finals when they last took part in the UEFA Europa League in 2015/16. In the last 32 that season, they knocked out FC Porto courtesy of a 2-0 home victory and a 1-0 away win. Borussia Dortmund's home record in UEFA Europa League knockout games reads: two victories and a draw.

Stable: Atalanta were one of only four teams in the UEFA Europa League group stages to have not lost a match (four victories and two draws). On Matchday 5 the Italians recorded their highest away victory in European competition, beating Everton 5-1 at Goodison Park.

Weak spot: In total, however, the Bergamo-based outfit have only won two of their 12 away matches in European competition. There have been five draws and five defeats as well.