Atalanta, 8th Italian club that Barça crosses in its history in the Champions League: How did it go?

A guaranteed great match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. FC Barcelona and Atalanta, two of the most fearsome offenses in Europe, will clash in a match corresponding to the eighth round of the UEFA Champions League. It will be the first time the azulgrana team meets 'La Dea' in any competition and the fiftieth time they encounter an Italian team in this tournament.

Throughout its long history in the Champions League, FC Barcelona has faced seven different Italian teams: AC Milan, Juventus, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Udinese, Napoli, and Fiorentina. Notably, the Catalan team has performed well, winning 44% of the matches (22), drawing 34% (17), and losing only 22% (11) of the 49 matches played against teams from the 'Azzurra' nation.

The AC Milan is the Italian club that FC Barcelona has faced the most times, with a total of 15 matches. Moreover, the 'Rossoneri' are the team that they have defeated the most times (six), with which they have drawn the most times (five), and also against whom they have lost the most opportunities (four). Closely following is another great from the Milan area, Inter, with 12 encounters, in which Barça has achieved six wins, four draws, and two losses.

How did FC Barcelona fare in their last match against an Italian team?

It is also worth noting that the most recent encounter of FC Barcelona against an Italian team in the UEFA Champions League was against Napoli last season, 2023-24. In the round of 16, the azulgrana squad managed to draw 1-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona in the first leg (21/02/2024) and secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win at Montjuïc in the return leg (12/03/2024).

Barça has good and bad memories in its history of matches against Italian teams

Simultaneously, evaluating the history of FC Barcelona against Italian clubs in the UEFA Champions League reveals matches of great significance in the club's history. Some highlights include the Champions League final 2014-15, where they defeated Juventus 1-3 to lift their fifth 'Orejona'.

However, there are less favorable moments such as the comeback suffered against AS Roma that knocked them out of the Champions in the 2017-18 season. The 3-1 defeat against Inter in the first leg of the 'semis' of the Champions League 09-10 is also remembered, a blow that was crucial in their ultimate downfall in that tournament. Even in their history against Italian teams, they recorded an elimination in a final at the hands of AC Milan in the 1993-94 season (4-0).

Now, how will FC Barcelona manage their commitment against Atalanta? We will have to see.