Hi , i’m Braidon Dye and welcome to the Jan Breydelstadion for the first leg of the Champions League play off tie between Club Brugge and Atalanta. The Hosts finished 24th whilst the visitors missed out on the top eight by just a point. The winners will face either Aston Villa or Lille in the Round Of 16.
Club Brugge have made six changes from their 1-0 win against OH Leuven as they look to put themselves in a strong position heading to Bergamo in a weeks time.
Atalanta make two changes from the impressive 5-0 win over Hellas Verona at the weekend and despite being ravaged with injuries they are still the favourites.
1′ Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler gets us underway in Brugge in this massive playoff tie.
3′ Atalanta taking control early here as they look to impose themselves in what is a hostile atmosphere, The hosts look happy to let the visitors dictate the play.
5′ Christos Tzolis looks to play in Ferran Jutgla inside the Atalanta penalty area but over hits the pass but its positive play from Brugge early on.
7′ Tzolis nicks the ball back in the middle of the pitch and the Hosts go three on one but the winger strikes from outside the box and its a comfortable save for Rui Patricio, its more good play by the hosts.
8′ What a chance for Brugge, Atalanta give the ball away cheaply again and they work it nicely as the ball gets played across for Tzolis who gets a touch from six yards but can only find the goalkeepers gloves.
10′ Atalanta are giving the ball away too much in the opening 10 minutes and are putting themselves under real pressure at the back and wont keep getting away with it.
Embed from Getty ImagesA reminder of whats to come in a brilliant evening of Champions League football.
14′ Tzolis is causing so many problems for the visitors at the moment as he nearly wiggles through but Raoul Bellanova covers well.
15′ GOALLLL, Brugge lead in the Breydelstadion , Jutgla Thumps in a brilliant strike after Atalanta give the ball away again and Chemsdine Talbi was on his toes to intercept the pass and pick out the Spaniard who finished spectacularly.
19′ Gian Piero Gasperini is livid with what he has seen so far and the 2024 Europa League Champions look shell-shocked out there.
20′ Stefan Posch brings down Talbi in a dangerous area outside the box, the Austrian is very fortunate to escape with out a yellow card there.
21′ Atalanta struggle to clear their line as the free kick causes a massive scramble in the six yard box before the visitors finally scramble the ball away.
23′ The Club Brugge faithful are having a party as it stands and if they keep playing like this they could see themselves in a comfortable position heading to Bergamo next week.
Embed from Getty Images25′ Atalanta try to get themselves back in it after Bellanova whips in a cross to the back post where Davide Zappacosta is waiting but has a wild swing at it and sends it flying over the bar which was met with jeers by the home crowd.
28′ Atalanta come forward with Charles De Ketelaere who’s wings in a dangerous cross before it comes to Posch on the edge of the box who hits it straight at the keeper and Atalanta finally have their first shot on target of the evening.
30′ Maxim De Cuyper thunders one into the side netting after another counter attack , Patricio is fuming with his defenders and rightly so as there is way too much space for Brugge in attack.
34′ Atalanta are performing so below par tonight that may be due to missing players trough injury but there is a lack of intensity and purpose in their play so far this evening.
37′ Atalanta are being outplayed in every aspect in the opening 38 minutes here they are being out thought, outfought out passed and outran.
Embed from Getty Images39′ Nicky Hayen will be delighted with this first half especially as they are seen as the underdogs but he may be a little disappointed its only 1-0.
40′ First huge chance for Atalanta as Mateo Retegui who scored four at the weekend can’t convert this chance as he drills it wide of the post,
41′ GOALLL , Atalanta are level as Zappacosta whips in a dangerous ball with his right foot and Mario Pasalic heads it beyond Simon Mignolet who was rooted to the spot and against the run of play the Italians are level before the break.
That goal is a hammer blow for Nicky Hayen’s side who were in the ascendancy in this half but just started to make sloppy mistakes and were punished by Atalanta who need to build of this now.
45′ Atalanta seem to have an extra spring in their step now as they are quicker in the press and have some more intensity whilst in possession that goal has changed the game completely.
HALF TIME- The referee brings a close to the first half in a chaotic 45 minutes which saw Club Brugge take a deserved lead 15 minutes into the game when Ferran Jutgla fired a brilliant effort past Rui Patricio. Brugge pressed for more but couldn’t take advantage of Atalanta’s sloppy errors before Mario Pasalic guided a fantastic header past Simon Mignolet just before the break which made it 1-1 ahead of a intriguing second half at the Jan Breydelstadion.
Please let us know your thoughts on that first half, who will come out on top at the halfway mark in the tie.
45′ Kick Off Brugge get us underway and we are hoping for some more of what we got in the first 45 minutes.
49′ Talbi has the first attempt of the second half as he cuts in from the right and hits it with his left foot before he sends it flying over the bar, the Brugge support will be happy with the start to the half.
Embed from Getty Images50′ Posch clears the danger for the visitors , Brugge continue their strong start to the half but can’t get a shot off.
52′ WHAT A EFFORT, Brugge threaten again as there is a scramble in the penalty area as two Brugge players get in each others way and it comes to De Cuyper who hits it so cleanly on the volley and is inches wide of the post.
57′ Talbi fires another effort towards goal from 25 yards and keeps it on target but it is straight down the throat of Patricio.
Embed from Getty Images59′ Tzolis whips in a very dangerous corner and all it needed was a flick but it goes through everybody and out for a goal kick.
63′ double substitution for Atalanta,Goalscorer Mario Pasalic makes way for Lazar Samardzic and Juan Cuadrado replaces Raoul Bellanova.
65′ TWO BIG CHANCES, Atalanta fly forward as Cuadrado whips in a brilliant cross and Zappacosta heads it and Mignolet pulls of a fantastic save to keep it 1-1, seconds later Samardzic fires it wide from the edge of the box and Club Brugge get away with one.
Embed from Getty Images71′ Substitution for Brugge Tzolis is replaced by Gustaf Nilsson
71′ Atalanta make two changes as Rafael Toloi and Marco Brescianini replace Stefan Posch and Mateo Retegui
A reminder the winner of this tie will face either Aston Villa or LOSC Lille in the next round.
Embed from Getty Images80′ the game seems to be in a lull at the moment with both teams not wanting to lose, Brugge will want the win more but Atalanta would settle with a draw with the second leg being on home turf.
83′ De ketelaere forces a brilliant save from Mignolet from outside the box to keep it 1-1 brilliant effort from the Belgian.
85′ Atalanta are the ones pushing for the victory, Zappacosta has a go from distance but it sails miles over the bar, no doubt its been an improved second half from the visitors who have limited the hosts chances in this half, Brugge still look a threat on the counter and its all to play for in the final minutes here.
87′ Hugo Vetlesen and Hugo Siquet replace Ferran Jutgla and Chesmsdine Talbi
90′ Cuadrado cuts inside and has a go bit is straight at Mignolet, The substitute has had a positive impact on this second half and ha been very direct.
Three minutes of additional time here in Brugge
91′ PENALTY, Brugge have a penalty in stoppage time, Isak Hien puts a hand in the face of Nilsson, we are awaiting a VAR check.
92′ Penalty confirmed
93′ GOALLLL, Nilsson thunders in the penalty as Patricio goes the wrong way and they have surely won this first leg now, the Breydelstadion has been sent into bedlam in the dying seconds here.
Well Club Brugge with a bit of luck have surely won the first leg here , the goal will be surrounded by controversy but the Brugge fans will not care at all they have recorded a historic victory here this evening.
FULL TIME – Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta.
Club Brugge have defeated Atalanta thanks to a dramatic late penalty through Gustaf Nilsson who scored his first Champions League goal of the season. Brugge started the better side when Ferran Jutgla thundered in a brilliant finish past Rui Patricio after 15 minutes. The hosts deserved the lead after missing many chances in the first half hour. Mario Pasalic equalised for the visitors a couple minutes before the break which was a hammer blow for the hosts. the game died down in the second half with both teams trying not to lose but a controversial penalty was given in the second minute of stoppage time which left Atalanta tempers flaring. The second leg is set up nicely in Bergamo in a weeks time.
Thank you for joining me tonight at the Jan Breydelstadion , I’ve been Braidon Dye , Good evening and Good night.