Welcome from the Belgian city of Brugge as tonight the reigning Europa League champions take on Club Brugge in the first round of the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Here’s how we line up tonight!
Who are you most looking forward to seeing in action?
#GoAtalantaGo
1′ The atmosphere is building as we are underway…
Embed from Getty Images5′ A relatively tentative start from both teams with Atalanta holding the majority of the ball
7′ Mario Pasalic giving the ball away cheaply leading to a 3 v 2 in favour of Brugge but Christos Tzolis shot is straight at Rui Patricio
8′ Brugge now looking the more threatening of the two as a ball is flashed across the face of the box but no one was there to get onto the end of it
14′ Raoul Bellanova with a goal saving tackle as Tzolis is played in and looked destined to take the lead
15′ Goal Brugge. Ferran Jutgla fires home a brilliant half-volley as Stefan Posch is caught napping just outside the Atalanta box, Chemsdine Talbi pounces and plays it into the path of Jutgla who buries the chance.
Embed from Getty Images19′ Atalanta cannot get a grip on this game at all, Brugge have held onto the ball very well and look like they’re going to score on every attack.
28′ That’s better, Pasalic whips in a delightful cross into a dangerous area but no one could quite get onto the end of it, Posch then has a snap shot following the clearance from the initial cross but even though it was powerful it was a simple stop for Simon Mignolet
30′ Maxime De Cuype slices a shot into the side netting, Patricio is furious with the defence in front of him
40′ A big chance goes begging for Mateo Retegui, and for his standards he really should be putting that away, Brugge give the ball away to the Italian on the edge of their own box, he takes a couple touches and hits the ball on the half volley but fires wide of the mark.
41′ GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL, PASALICCCCCCCCCCCC. Out of absolutely nothing. Davide Zappacosta with a beautiful ball into the middle and Pasalic with a glancing header into the far corner as Mignolet is rooted to the floor. 1-1 game on.
Embed from Getty Images45′ Heading towards the break and the equaliser has completely changed the momentum of this game, prior to it the Belgians were flowing with confidence but now it’s the other way round and Atalanta look most likely to score next
HT After controlling the game for the first 40 minutes Club Brugge looked to be heading into the dressing room the happier of the two sides until Pasalic popped up with a brilliant glancing header. then for the final five minutes of the half Atalanta were very much on top. Who do you think will start the fastest going into the second half?
46′ Club Brugge gets us back underway…
51′ Threatening from Brugge with a few intricate passes around the Atalanta defence but in the end nothing comes of it
52′ Lazar Samardzic is getting instructions from the bench as he looks to be the first sub of the game
54′ To answer my question at half time, Brugge have been the much faster starters in this second half. A lot of similarities to the first half, Atalanta need to settle as Brugge are starting to play around them with ease
62′ A double change for Atalanta
65′ Almost instant impact from both subs. Juan Cuadrado as his cross is met by Zappacosta but his header is saved down low from Mignolet
66′ Then the following minute Samardzic has a shot across goal in the Brugge box but it flashes just wide, the Serbian really should be doing better in that scenario.
70′ Both teams still fighting for a winner, but if it were to end now, draw Atalanta will definitely take it
71′ Changes for both sides
79′ A stagnant period in the game where it seems both teams don’t want to lose, but will there be a late winner?
83′ Charles De Ketelaere finally has his first shot of the game, forces Mignolet into a diving save to his left but it was at a comfortable height for the veteran
86′ Two changes for Brugge and one for Atalanta
90′ A short corner played into Cuadrado but his shot is powerful but straight at Mignolet who isn’t troubled
90′ three minutes have been added on as this game looks to be heading for a draw
91′ Wow. Penalty to Club Brugge, Isak Hien is on his knees pleading to the ref, he cannot believe it’s been given.
92′ looking at the replay now there is absolutely no chance this should be given as a penalty
92′ It’s been given, what a dreadful decision
93′ Hien brushes the head of Casper Nielsen who goes down holding his face, but it was completely unintentional and not near enough contact for the reaction that Nielsen performed.
93′ A yellow has been brandished for Hien and Cuadrado for his complaints about the decision
94′ Goal Brugge, Nielsen keeps calm and has won it as Patricio guesses the wrong way
Embed from Getty Images94′ Gian Piero Gasperini has walked down the tunnel in frustration, he doesn’t think it was a penalty
FT The ref blows the full time whistle, an incredibly controversial end to a very quiet second half. Tempers are over flowing as the Atalanta players/coaches are furious with the referee and rightly so. All to play for now in the city of Bergamo as Atalanta now need to turn this goal deficit around in the second leg.