Atalanta are unbeaten in their last five Champions League fixtures, securing four wins during that span. The Italian side has also won six of its past seven home fixtures, while Athletic Club have recorded only one victory through six UCL matches, conceding nine goals during that stretch. I'm backing the home side to secure all three points on Wednesday.
Athletic Club have played their first six UCL matches pretty close to the chest. They have only found a single win, scored four goals and only conceded nine. Now it's crunch time. They can't afford to play slow and park the bus, especially against an Atalanta side who is looking at Athletic like a tasty meal right now as they pursue a top eight finish. If Athletic Club lose this match, their UCL journey is most likely over. They won't stop Atalanta from scoring, so they have to press. I see BTTS hitting, and a 2-1/3-1 finish for Atalanta.
When you look at the top five of the UCL table, we see the usual suspects. Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City and... Atalanta?? That's right everyone! Raffaele Palladino has this Atalanta on track to finish in the top eight, and I don't see a world where they slow down against an Athletic Club who have been in horrendous form as of late. Athletic Club has to push, and when they do, Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere will rip them on the counter. I'm shocked this isn't -175.
