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

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Nkunku scored one and assisted two as Leipzig consolidated fourth place in the Bundesliga with an emphatic 4-1 win at Borussia Dortmund. The freshly minted France international has now had a direct hand in 42 goals in 40 competitive appearances so far season, including nine in 10 European fixtures. Having finished third in their Champions League group, Leipzig beat Real Sociedad 5-3 in their last-16 play-off, before receiving a bye to the quarter-finals. Die Roten Bullen have lost just once in 2022 - a 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich - and twice in 18 matches since Domenico Tedesco replaced Jesse Marsch as head coach. Spain international playmaker Dani Olmo - on target against Dortmund - has rediscovered fitness and form, with left-back Angelino, midfielder Konrad Laimer - scorer of an unlikely brace at the weekend - and striker Andre Silva also thriving again on Tedesco's watch. Wing-back Benjamin Henrichs should be an option again after missing out at a sold-out Signal Iduna Park with a stomach bug, while Tyler Adams has also trained again after a knock, but midfielder Amadou Haidara is definitely still sidelined.

Atalanta saw off Bayer Leverkusen in the last round and will arrive in Germany looking to repeat their 1-0 win at the BayArena, which completed a 4-2 aggregate win over Die Werkself. Their weekend preparation was not the best, though, as they lost 3-1 at home to Napoli, a result which saw them drop to seventh in Serie A. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted afterwards that he almost gave Duvan Zapata a slice of the action late on, and the Colombian forward, who has nine league goals this season, could play a part on Thursday. Jeremy Boga has also shaken off a groin injury, though the scorer of the winning goal in Leverkusen is set to start on the bench again - a role he has become accustomed to since joining from Sassuolo in the summer.

Match stats

Nkunku has registered 12 goals and seven assists since the turn of the year.

Emil Forsberg has scored at least once in each of Leipzig's five European campaigns to date. He's the club's record scorer in UEFA competition, with 12 goals in 40 appearances.

Tedesco's Leipzig have lost just one of 14 competitive matches since the turn of the year, winning 10.

Leipzig have scored in all eight of their European matches this season (20 goals at an average of 2.5 per game).

Die Roten Bullen won their only previous UEFA meeting with Italian opposition, knocking out Napoli on away goals in the 2017/18 round of 32.

Atalanta suffered a 4-3 aggregate loss to Dortmund at the same stage. As well as Leverkusen, they have also faced Cologne in European competition, winning at home and drawing in Germany in the 1990/91 UEFA Cup third round.

Probable line-ups

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

Out: Haidara (knee), Poulsen (groin)

Doubtful: Tschauner (cold)

Coach: Domenico Tedesco

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

Out: Cabezas (knee), Ilicic (not included), Toloi (groin)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini

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