Barcelona vs. Atalanta BC | Champions League | League Stage | Pre Match

Barcelona will attempt to maintain their unbeaten record in 2025 when they play host to Atalanta BC in Wednesday's Champions League encounter. The Blaugrana, who have already sealed a top-eight spot, could still finish the league phase in first place, while seventh-placed Atalanta will attempt to secure an automatic last-16 berth on matchday eight.

Barcelona are sitting just three points adrift of leaders Liverpool after recovering from an away defeat against Monaco to put together a six-game winning run in the league phase. Hansi Flick's side dispatched Young Boys, Bayern Munich, Red Star Belgrade, Brest, and Borussia Dortmund before they staged a stunning comeback in last week's clash with Benfica to add three more points to their tally. The Blaugrana trailed 3-1 and 4-2 on their trip to the Portuguese capital, but they still managed to return home with all three points after Robert Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the contest to lay the platform for a dramatic late turnaround. Eric Garcia netted an 86th-minute equalizer before Raphinha scored a 96th-minute winner at the Estadio da Luz, further demonstrating Barcelona's resilience and determination in European competition.

Not content with their goalscoring exploits in Portugal, Barcelona produced another free-scoring display in Sunday's La Liga home game against Valencia, netting five goals in a dominant first-half performance - including a Fermin Lopez brace - before going on to add two more to their tally in the second period to seal a remarkable 7-1 victory. This emphatic win not only boosted their confidence but also moved the third-placed side back to within seven points of leaders Real Madrid. With their attacking prowess in full display, Barcelona have now won six and drawn one of their seven competitive matches in 2025, ensuring that they will take plenty of momentum into their first-ever competitive meeting with Atalanta. The hosts will be looking for another strong home performance in the Champions League after winning their three previous European home matches by a combined 12-1 scoreline.

The Blaugrana know that a win would be enough to finish in the top spot if Liverpool fail to take anything from their away meeting with PSV Eindhoven. While their fate remains partially out of their hands, Flick’s men will undoubtedly approach the game with the intent of securing a victory and putting pressure on Liverpool. The team's defensive stability, coupled with their explosive attacking talent, makes them formidable opponents for any side. The return of key players such as Pedri from illness further strengthens their squad depth ahead of this crucial encounter.

In contrast to their opponents, Atalanta still have work to do if they are to join Barcelona in the last 16. The Italian side currently sits one point above ninth position after winning four, drawing two, and losing one of their seven matches in the league phase. Their campaign began with a five-game unbeaten run, playing out goalless affairs with Celtic and Arsenal on either side of a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, before they went on to claim back-to-back European victories against Stuttgart and Young Boys. While they were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid on matchday six, Atalanta produced an emphatic response in last week's clash against Sturm Graz, with Mateo Retegui, Mario Pasalic, Charles De Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman, and Marco Brescianini all finding the net in a resounding 5-0 victory.

As a result of that successful home outing, the Serie A outfit is now the third-highest scorers in the league phase with 18 goals to their name, while they also boast the fourth-best defensive record after conceding on just four occasions. Atalanta may view Saturday's 2-1 league victory against a Como team managed by former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas as a positive omen for Wednesday's difficult European fixture, although they have failed to win any of their last five Champions League matches against Spanish opposition (D1, L4). However, Atalanta have certainly fared well on their European travels this season, having won all of their previous three away matches in the league phase, scoring 11 times and conceding just once in those fixtures. Their ability to perform on the road suggests that they will be no pushovers when they take on Barcelona, and their dynamic attack will look to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities that the hosts may present.

Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, while long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are continuing to work on their recovery from knee injuries. Attacker Dani Olmo is unlikely to be ready for Wednesday's fixture after missing the last two competitive matches with a calf problem. In positive news, Pedri has recovered from illness and could return to the Barcelona midfield for the final match of the league phase. Flick could persist with Wojciech Szczesny for a third consecutive game, while Gavi and Lewandowski may come back into the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench at the weekend. These tactical decisions will be crucial in determining how Barcelona approaches this contest, as their rotation policy ensures that key players remain fresh for the latter stages of the season.

Meanwhile, Atalanta are unable to call upon defender Odilon Kossounou and forward Gianluca Scamacca due to adductor and knee injuries, respectively. Midfielder Marten de Roon will have to be assessed after being forced off at halftime against Como following a clash of heads with Maximo Perrone. Isak Hien is set to be recalled to the starting lineup after he served a one-match suspension at the weekend for an accumulation of yellow cards. Retegui will be looking to continue his fine run of form, having scored five goals across Atalanta's last four competitive matches. His presence in the attack could pose significant problems for Barcelona’s backline, especially if the visitors manage to dominate possession and create clear-cut opportunities.

Ultimately, this fixture promises to be a thrilling encounter between two high-scoring teams with plenty at stake. While Barcelona will be eager to extend their unbeaten run and potentially secure the top spot in the league phase, Atalanta will be determined to clinch an automatic last-16 berth. The Catalan giants will rely on their attacking firepower and home advantage to get the job done, but Atalanta’s strong away form and resilience could make this a challenging contest. With both teams boasting impressive goal-scoring records, fans can expect an entertaining clash filled with end-to-end action, dramatic moments, and potentially a high-scoring affair as two of Europe’s most exciting teams go head-to-head at the iconic Camp Nou.