Champions League Playoff Gets 15-Minute Kickoff Postponement After Team Bus Traffic
Borussia Dortmund’s UEFA Champions League playoff clash with Atalanta kicked off 15 minutes late Tuesday night after the German squad’s team bus became stuck in traffic en route to Signal Iduna Park.[1][4] The original 21:15 CET start time was pushed back as Dortmund worked to get its players and staff to the stadium, forcing officials to delay the first leg of their knockout-round matchup.[1][4]
The postponement highlighted an unusual pre-match disruption for a team playing at home, with Dortmund later posting on social media: “Due to our team’s delayed arrival, kickoff will be postponed by 15 minutes.”[4] Despite the chaotic buildup, Dortmund came out firing, with Serhou Guirassy scoring just three minutes into the contest to give the hosts an early advantage.[3]
Injury Crisis Tests Both Squads
Both sides entered the match severely depleted by injuries.[2] Dortmund was without defensive anchors Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, forcing manager Niko Kovac to reshape his backline.[2] Midfielder Emre Can and winger Filippo Mane were also sidelined, limiting the team’s attacking options.[2]
Atalanta faced similar challenges, missing attacking weapons Charles De Ketelaere and January signing Giacomo Raspadori due to injuries sustained over the weekend.[1][2] The Italian club nonetheless named Gianluca Scamacca in the starting XI, while defensive stalwarts Giorgio Scalvini and Isak Hien dropped to the bench.[1]
High Stakes for Round of 16 Qualification
The playoff format underscores both teams’ struggles in the new Champions League format.[1] Atalanta narrowly missed automatic qualification to the Round of 16 despite their recent pedigree, faltering with defeats to Athletic Club and Union Saint-Gilloise.[1] Dortmund, meanwhile, has historical baggage against Italian opposition, having lost their previous three European Cup or Champions League two-legged ties against Serie A clubs, including a devastating 5-1 aggregate loss to Juventus in 2015.[6]
The second leg is scheduled for February 25, giving both teams a crucial week to recover key players and prepare for their path to the knockout stages.
