Atalanta vs. RB Leipzig: UEFA Europa League probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

It wasn't Nkunku that hauled Leipzig level in the first leg but instead an own-goal from Davide Zappacosta as Domenico Tedesco's team responded superbly to going behind in the first half. They could have won it, too, with Andre Silva missing from the penalty spot and Dominik Szoboszlai twice going close to grabbing a winner late on. As it stands, the tie remains firmly in the balance at 1-1 as Leipzig look to advance their stunning progress under Tedesco both at home and abroad. Domestically, a DFB Cup semi awaits next Wednesday, while Leipzig's top-four bid was strengthened by another Nkunku-inspired win as they saw off Hoffenheim on Sunday to move within a point of third-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Amadou Haidara is the only absentee for Die Roten Bullen, meaning Tedesco has a full squad at his disposal as Leipzig look to reach a European semi-final for the second time in their history.

Atalanta are seventh in Serie A and have gone two games without a win on home soil. That is an ominous sign for the Italians as they host a Leipzig team that has won each of their previous six on the road in all competitions, chalking up 24 goals in the process - at an average of four goals per game. The hosts did beat Leverkusen in the quarter-finals but just three wins in 12 in the league since the turn of the year - compared to 11 Bundesliga victories in 16 for Leipzig - shows that Gian Piero Gasperini's team have been struggling in 2022 thus far; as evidenced by Sunday's league defeat at Sassuolo that stretched Atalanta's winless run to three games in all competitions.

Match stats

Nkunku has scored or assisted in all but one of Leipzig's nine away fixtures in 2022.

Sixteen different outfield players have scored for Leipzig in all competitions so far this season, with Silva (14 goals) second to Nkunku (28 goals) in the club charts.

Tedesco's Leipzig have lost just one of 16 competitive matches since the turn of the year, winning 11.

Leipzig and Atalanta have scored in all of their European games this season, the Bundesliga side hitting 21 in nine and the Italians 22 in their 11 matches.

Leipzig are on course to reach the semi-final stage of a UEFA competition for the second time since gaining promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016. They made it through to the Champions League last four in 2019/20.

Germany are the only country with more than one club in the quarter-finals - Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt, who could meet in the final.

Probable line-ups

Atalanta: Musso - De Roon, Demiral, Palomino - Hateboer, Koopmeiners, Freuler (c), Zappacosta - Malinovskyi, Pasalic - Muriel

Out: Cabezas (knee), Ilicic (depression)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol - Henrichs, Laimer, Kampl, Angelino - Olmo - Silva, Nkunku

Out: Haidara (knee)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Share