Atalanta Chase Champions League Progression, Palladino Says No Calculations

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Atalanta approach Wednesday’s Champions League home match against Athletic Club knowing victory may still not secure a top-eight place, with Raffaele Palladino admitting uncertainty over whether 16 points will be enough in the new league-style format.

After Tuesday’s results, three points could lift Atalanta as high as second in the overall table, yet the structure of this season’s Champions League means even that position might not guarantee qualification for the last 16 before the final matchday.

Atalanta enter the Athletic clash with 13 points from six Champions League fixtures, having responded to a 4-0 defeat against holders Paris Saint-Germain on matchday one with an unbeaten five-game sequence, recording four wins and one draw under two different coaches.

La Dea changed direction in November when Ivan Juric was dismissed, with former Monza and Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino stepping in and quickly influencing their European campaign by overseeing strong victories against Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea.

Palladino’s first two Champions League games produced a 3-0 home success over Eintracht Frankfurt and a 2-1 win against Chelsea, and Atalanta have since taken five victories from seven matches in all competitions after beating the Premier League side, with one draw and one defeat in that run.

"We'll start again with the spirit that we've had over the last two months, Palladino said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference. The Champions League gives you a big competitive charge, but that should also be the case in the league. We have a great opportunity to do well tomorrow. We've had five victories since the Chelsea game and that shows that the team is growing game by game."

Atalanta Champions League points target and new format

Last season, Atalanta collected 15 points in the Champions League but still fell short of the top eight, as every club that reached at least 16 points progressed directly to the round of 16, setting a clear reference point for this campaign.

Asked whether 16 points would again secure advancement, Palladino focused on performance rather than statistics, describing the competition’s structure and stressing that Atalanta must handle each fixture on its own terms rather than plan around theoretical thresholds.

"The new format is very compelling. However, we don't make calculations. We think game by game. We want to make history. We're facing a well-prepared and very strong team. They might have a few absences and a few poor results over the last few weeks, but it can all be turned around in the Champions League. We will have to put in a great performance, and the difference will be in the details."

Atalanta Champions League results overview

Atalanta’s Champions League campaign so far shows clear improvement after the opening loss to Paris Saint-Germain, with consistent results under both Juric and Palladino building a platform for qualification before the decisive final fixtures.

The meeting with Athletic arrives with Atalanta in strong form but still aware that the tight points spread and unfamiliar format leave little margin, so Palladino’s side must treat Wednesday’s game as another decisive step rather than a guaranteed route into the last 16.