Watch Champions League Match of the Day at top of page
Arsenal begin Champions League campaign with draw away to Atalanta
Raya makes extraordinary double save - including keeping out penalty - to earn Gunners draw
Monaco stun 10-man Barcelona, plus wins for Atletico Madrid & Brest
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Champions League Thursdays just isn't on. Football has, more than ever, become a money game. The Premier League, Uefa and Fifa are all milking the cash cow. I'm not surprised players have been talking about going on strike. #toomuchfootball
Tony, Somerset
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter at the Gewiss Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking in Bergamo ahead of facing Atalanta, Jorginho said Arsenal "need to learn their lessons from last season".
Arsenal only had one away win in five Champions League games yet in contrast to that indifferent form they are yet to lose on their travels in the Premier League in 2024.
Jorginho wouldn’t be drawn on the advantage of Manchester City playing 24 hours earlier ahead of their league game on Sunday, "bit more difficult for us, but it is what it is".
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
On Arsenal's development...
It's a team that is starting to develop and understand their identity. I really like them and as I watch them we see how much they've improved.
They arrive with some experience and youth, but an ability to go up against anyone as their style of play travels.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac, who is wearing Atalanta's No 23 shirt tonight, says he is wary of facing his old club on the back of them winning the north London derby.
"I'm happy to see my old team-mates again, it's special," said Kolasinac, who made 118 appearances over five seasons with the Gunners.
"It's always difficult to play against English teams. They are physically strong. We watch a lot of the Premier League and know it will be difficult, but we have prepared well and we have a game plan to implement.
"Arsenal won the north London derby and are full of confidence. They have great players, are solid in defence and very dangerous at set-pieces.
"We are up against a team with an excellent shape, who can press high while remaining compact. They are a young side who know their strengths - and we know ours."
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Champions League football on a Thursday night? I’m all for more games but it just doesn’t feel right. Thursdays belong to the Europa League.
Sam
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta on whether playing tonight will have an impact on his players before Sunday's crucial Premier League game at Manchester City: "Is that a disadvantage? Hopefully not. Hopefully we have so much energy from what happened on Sunday [1-0 win at Tottenham] as well. It was great. We are looking at the positives."
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
Arsenal are in a period where the club is re-emerging. They are second in the league to Manchester City at the moment, there is no shame in that. You can't crumble when things don't go your way. City, can they continue pushing and setting the standards in the way they do? Arsenal are up there and on their tails.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesWith a match at Manchester City on Sunday, this is a huge few days for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.
While the Gunners are chasing a first Premier League title since 2003-04, they have never been crowned champions of Europe.
Will that change this season?
Monaco v Barcelona (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona begin their Champions League campaign against Monaco.
The Spanish giants were knocked out at the quarter-final stage in 2023-24, suffering a spectacular collapse against Paris Saint-German to lose 6-4 on aggregate.
Their starting XI tonight features 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest player ever to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or earlier this month.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
No player is ever happy when they're not playing.
Leandro Trossard already coming out and making his feelings known. Gabriel Jesus has been working hard to get back to fitness.
Over the course of a season most manager's these days learn how to use their squads properly.
Maybe, Trossard isn't playing as he [Arteta] has an eye on getting the best out of him against Manchester City on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid v RB Leipzig (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesAtletico Madrid, beaten by Dortmund in the quarter-finals last season, begin their campaign against RB Leipzig.
Former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher and ex-Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez are two players to look out for in Atletico's team, with the pair having joined in the summer.
Both scored their first goals for the club in Sunday's 3-0 win over Valencia in La Liga.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
This is only Atalanta's fourth Champions League campaign.
But the team based in Bergamo, northern Italy, are no strangers to facing Premier League opposition in the competition.
They held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw back in 2019, defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in 2020 and held Manchester United 2-2 in 2021.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesAtalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
BBC Radio 5 Live
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman is in Italy alongside Ian Dennis for full 5 Live commentary of Atalanta against Arsenal.
Mark Chapman presents build-up from 19:00 BST.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka starts in a boost for the Gunners after coming off in the win over Tottenham with a problem.
Declan Rice is back after missing that game through suspension but captain Martin Odegaard faces a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori is on the bench after returning from injury.
Gabriel Jesus captains the side.
Former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac is one of the ex-Premier League players in the Atalanta team, alongside Davide Zappacosta, Marten de Roon and Ademola Lookman.
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Atalanta XI: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Retegui, Lookman.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Gabriel Jesus captains Arsenal in Italy while Declan Rice returns to the starting XI after serving a suspension.
Leandro Trossard and Jorginho drop to the bench.
Full team news coming up.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's fast approaching team news time.
There are 60-odd hours from the end of this match and the start of Sunday's huge game at Manchester City (16:30 BST).
Does Mikel Arteta field his strongest XI to ensure the Gunners get off to a flying start in the Champions League?
Or does he rest his big guns?
We're about to find out.
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesWe'll keep you updated on the early games but with around 75 minutes until kick-off, we're going to build-up to Arsenal's game at Atalanta.
Will the Gunners get their European campaign off to a flying start like Liverpool, Aston Villa and Celtic?
Atalanta v Arsenal (20:00 BST)
Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter at the Gewiss Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesA very relaxed atmosphere outside the Gewiss Stadium although there's a very heavy police presence in Bergamo.
A sell-out crowd is expected with 24,000 inside this newly renovated, compact ground.
1,304 Arsenal fans have travelled and they will be tucked away in the corner of the Curva Sud.
PSG 1-0 Girona
Highlights: PSG 1-0 Girona
Man City 0-0 Inter Milan
Highlights: Man City 0-0 Inter Milan
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 6 | Sparta Prague | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 10 | Sporting CP | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 11 | Benfica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 13 | Brest | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 20 | Bologna | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 21 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 24 | Sturm Graz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 25 | Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 26 | Girona | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 27 | PSV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 28 | Stuttgart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 31 | Club Brugge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| 32 | Red Bull Salzburg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| 33 | Young Boys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| 34 | Slovan Bratislava | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
|
| 35 | Feyenoord | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
| 36 | Dinamo Zagreb | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 0 |
|
Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
UEFA Champions League
All competitions
Atalanta have never previously faced Arsenal in any competition. The Gunners will be the fifth English side they have met in major European competition, after Everton (W2), Man City (D1 L1), Liverpool (W2 L2) and Man Utd (D1 L1).
Arsenal have lost their last three away UEFA Champions League games in Italy, although this is their first trip there since 2013. Those defeats came at Roma (0-1 in 2009), Milan (0-4 in 2012) and Napoli (0-2 in 2013).
Atalanta’s last four UEFA Champions League games – all in the 2021-22 group stage – have seen both them and their opponents score two or more goals (D2 L2). In the entire history of the European Cup, no side has ever both scored and conceded 2+ goals in five consecutive matches.
Arsenal have won their opening match in each of their last six major European campaigns (five in UEFA Europa League and last season’s Champions League). The last side to beat the Gunners in their first game was Dinamo Zagreb in the 2015-16 Champions League.
The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final – won 3-0 by his side – was Gian Piero Gasperini’s 50th game in charge of Atalanta in major European competition (excluding qualifiers). Gasperini has won just under half of those (48%), with 24 victories from 50 matches (D14 L12).
Only Atlético Madrid (+6.16) overperformed their xG total by a higher figure than Arsenal in last season’s UEFA Champions League (+5.49 – 19 goals from an xG of 13.51), while the Gunners also posted the third-highest shot conversion rate in the competition last term (15.7%), behind only Manchester United (16.9%) and Atlético de Madrid (16.8%).
Atalanta’s 23 UEFA Champions League matches have seen 3.6 goals per game (40 for, 43 against), the second-most of any team to feature 20+ times in the competition, behind Viktoria Plzen (3.8 per game).
Bukayo Saka was involved in eight goals in nine UEFA Champions League appearances for Arsenal in 2023-24 (4 goals, 4 assists), the most by an Englishman in their debut season, breaking the record set by Lee Bowyer for Leeds United in 2000-01 (6 goals, 1 assist).
Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman scored five times in his final three UEFA Europa League starts last season, including a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. Lookman’s never scored in four career appearances against Arsenal, while his only UEFA Champions League appearance was in October 2019 for RB Leipzig against Zenit.
Raheem Sterling could make his UEFA Champions League debut for Arsenal in this game and would become the first player in European Cup history to play for four different English teams, having previously played for Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. The other four players to play for three are David Batty (Leeds, Blackburn, Newcastle), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs) and Kolo Touré (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool).
