Atalanta and Valencia will meet for the first time in a competitive setting when they face-off in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchups at Gewiss Stadium on Wednesday.
Both teams will be eyeing this draw as an opportunity to clinch a memorable quarterfinal place in Europe’s top-level competition, though injuries and suspensions could spoil Valencia’s first-leg plans.
Atalanta vs. Valencia
- When: Wednesday, February 19
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- TV: Galavision
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
Atalanta, enjoying a dream run in its Champions League debut, emerged as 2-1 victors in a preseason friendly when these teams met in their only previous encounter of any kind at Mestalla Stadium in August 2017.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men finished a distant second to Manchester City in Group C to reach the knockout stages, while Valencia turned things around at the final hurdle in Group H to top the pile via head-to-head record.
The frustration for Los Che is that its resources look severely restricted for the trip to Bergamo, Italy, while Atalanta will enjoy a clean bill of health for the home clash. Centre-back Gabriel Paulista was sent off in Valencia’s final group fixture, a 1-0 win away to Ajax, and won’t be featured in the first leg, while defensive partner Ezequiel Garay is out with an injury. That should see Eliaquim Mangala and Moukhtar Diakhaby start in the heart of the defense. Right-back Cristiano Piccini and forward Manu Vallejo will also not be back from injury in time for the first leg, while striker Rodrigo Moreno and midfield anchor Francis Coquelin are both doubtful.
Atalanta is unbeaten in four matches and has won three of those, getting back to its winning ways at home against Roma on Saturday after drawing 2-2 with Genoa in its previous outing at Gewiss Stadium.
Valencia hit back twice from behind to draw 2-2 at home on Friday to a faltering Atletico Madrid, though the team is still without a win in three games across all contests.
While La Dea is hoping to make the quarterfinals in its maiden Champions League season, Valencia is targeting its first run into the last eight since the 2006-07 campaign.
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