After the mid-winter break, top-eight chasers Atalanta BC resume their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, when struggling Sturm Graz pay a visit to Bergamo.

The visitors will be seeking a first Austrian victory over Italian opponents in the competition's 32-year history, but they lie 29th in the table with only three points so far; La Dea sit 13th.

Since then, they have slipped behind in the Scudetto race, harming hopes of a first-ever Italian title, in addition to a tame exit in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals.

After losing to Inter Milan in Saudi Arabia, La Dea returned to league duty with a fortunate 0-0 draw against Udinese, and fit-again striker Mateo Retegui then emerged from the bench to rescue a point at home to Juventus.

Although Retegui spectacularly scored his second goal in two games since returning from injury, they ultimately lost 3-2 to title rivals Napoli on Saturday evening, ending a 15-match unbeaten streak in Serie A that featured 11 wins.

Winless in their last five across all competitions, Gian Piero Gasperini's side will now expect to put a halt to that run, as they have home advantage against one of the Champions League's more modest clubs.

However, Atalanta have posted only one win from their last 10 Champions League fixtures at the Gewiss Stadium, and another failure on Tuesday could end their quest to qualify directly for the last 16 - albeit, a place in the playoffs is almost confirmed.

The Nerazzurri have recent experience of meeting Sturm Graz in Europe, with Gasperini's men going unbeaten in two group-stage games en route to Europa League glory last season - drawing 2-2 away and winning 1-0 at home - so they will aim to continue in that vein.