Everything Atalanta should know about Bayern Munich ahead of Champions League round of 16 – Football Italia

MUNICH, GERMANY – JANUARY 21: Harry Kane of Bayern Munich celebrates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Bayern München and R. Union Saint-Gilloise at Football Arena Munich on January 21, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

The Champions League knock-out round draw is now complete and Atalanta, the only Italian team left standing, have learned that they will have to take on Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the round of 16. Here is everything that La Dea should know about their Bavarian opposition. 

Atalanta vs. Bayern: Everything you need to know

Champions League form 

Bayern Munich were the second strongest team in the competition during the league phase. Their tally of seven wins and one defeat was only bettered by Arsenal, who recorded a 100% win record across eight matches in the first portion of the 2025-26 competition. 

The aforementioned Arsenal are the only side to have beat Bayern so far in the Champions League this season. Vincent Kompany’s side have picked up victories against Chelsea, Pafos, Club Brugge, PSG, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven so far this season. 

Bayern also scored the second-most goals of any team across the league phase with 22 (level with Barcelona). Again, only Arsenal went better than the Bavarians with 23 goals from eight league phase matches. 

Key players

England national team captain Harry Kane is the brightest star in this current Bayern side. The former Tottenham man already has a staggering 43 goals and five assists from 36 matches across all competitions including eight goals in eight games in the Champions League. 

Bayern also boast world class attacking talents in Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala, who are expected to line up on the wing and in the no.10 role respectively when they face Atalanta in the round of 16. Vice-captain Joshua Kimmich will also run the midfield from his ‘Sechser’ role. 

Head to head record

This will be the first time that Atalanta and Bayern have met in a competitive fixture.

Atalanta boast an impressive record against German opposition over since the 2023-24 campaign. They have played five matches against Bundesliga opposition over the last three seasons and have won four of them: Against VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, and against Bayer Leverksuen in the final of the Europa League in 2024.

Over the same period, Bayern have only met two Italian opponents: Inter and Lazio. Surprisingly, Bayern have only won one of their last four encounters against Serie A opposition, which came against Lazio in the Champions League round of 16 in 2024. They also lost once against the Biancocelesti and drew one and lost one against Inter in last season’s Champions League quarter-final.

When will Atalanta and Bayern play each other?  

Round of 16 first leg: Tuesday March 10, 2026 @ 20.00 GMT (at the New Balance Arena)

Round of 16 second leg: Wednesday March 18 @ 20.00 GMT (at the Allianz Arena)

Quarter-final first legs: Tuesday April 7 and Wednesday April 8 

Quarter-final second legs: Tuesday April 14 and Wednesday April 15 

Semi-final first legs: Tuesday April 28 and Wednesday April 29 

Semi-final second legs: Tuesday May 5 and Wednesday May 6

Potential line-ups

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; Pasalic, Samardzic; Krstovic/Scamacca. 

Bayern (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Diaz; Kane.