As Real Madrid prepare to travel to Bergamo, they face Atalanta in what is quickly becoming a familiar European Cup game. This clash marks the fourth meeting between the two teams since 2021, a remarkable frequency considering they have never been considered natural rivals on the continent. In 2021, under Zinedine Zidane, a Madrid team that narrowly avoided a group stage exit defeated Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16 in two games. Most recently, Kylian Mbappé played his first minutes in a Real Madrid jersey against Atalanta in the 2024 European Super Cup.

This time the context has shifted again. The Champions League format has been redesigned and Real Madrid currently sit 24th out of 32 teams in the standings, meaning they are close to elimination. They arrive in Bergamo with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, an experienced Italian coach who takes on Gasperini, another Italian tactician who continues to take Atalanta to new heights.

Atalanta’s impressive domestic form poses clear challenges for Madrid. They are at the top of Serie A and are driven by goals Mateo Retegui, who has already scored 12 goals in the league. Behind these goals lies a data-driven history of dominance. The Italians leads Serie A in expected goals without penaltiesan indication that their accidental creation is rarely based on chance. Defensively, they allow fewer high-profile chances than most in Italy. with only five clubs recording a lower xG without penalty.

Their attack approach is dynamic and efficient. No team in Serie A has more shots on goaland her ability to advance the ball and break through defenses is evident in her Top marks in the league for key passes as well as passes both into the final third and into the penalty area. She Top the charts in shot-making actions from open play and rank third in attacks. This reflects a multifaceted approach that combines patient build-up with direct confrontation of defenders.

Territorially, Atalanta’s influence is unmistakable. They produce them Most of his touches take place in the attacking third and penalty area, while he leads the way in progressive runs and runs into dangerous areas. At the same time, their defensive structure limits opponents, as shown allow the third fewest touches from the opponent in your own attacking third.

For Real Madrid, this isn’t just a game against a statistically formidable opponent – it’s a game steeped in recent history and developing storylines. These two clubs, once strangers to each other, are forging their own European narrative. On Tuesday, Madrid will once again test Atalanta’s tactical discipline and attacking prowess in a revamped Champions League.