By Freddie Simpson
Hello and welcome to the Jan Breydel Stadium. Club Brugge and Atalanta will be battling it out over two legs for a place in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. #UCL
Here’s the 11 for the home side…
This is how the visitors line up…
1: The referee blows his whistle and we are underway here in Belgium.
5: First chance of the game falls the Club Brugge’s way, Christos Tzolis tries threading a ball through but his pass had was overhit.
7: Tzolis again with an opportunity for The Blues, the forward took too much time with the ball resulting in a timid attempt on goal which made it easy for Rui Patricio to save.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brugge fans making plenty of noise to start this one!
15: GOOOOOALLLLL! WHAT A STRIKE! Ferran Jutgla fires the Club Brugge ahead in the tie with a wonderful finish on the volley. The home side fully deserve their early advantage after having all of the chances. Atalanta look shell shocked to start this one. Dream start for Nickky Hayen’s side. #UCL #ClubBrugge
The man of the moment!
21: Atalanta are trying to survive a barrage here, they can’t get out of their own half! Who would have predicted this?
25: Zappacosta tries a volley of his own but his effort sums up the Italian side’s start to the game as the ball flies into the stands.
30: NEARLY TWO FOR BRUGGE. Maxim De Cuyper has a chance to double the lead but his shot is fired into the side netting. Relentless from The Blues. Still 1-0.
What an opening half an hour!
40: Retegui with the best chance of the game for Atalanta! He flicked the ball past the defender but steered his shot just wide of the post. Better from Atalanta.
41: WE ARE LEVEL! 1-1! It’s Mario Pasalic for Atalanta. Combining with his former Chelsea teammate Zappacosta, the Croatian heads the ball home from a spectacular delivery to get the game back on level terms. #Atalanta #UCL #Goal
HT: 1-1 as the referee blows his whistle to conclude the opening 45 minutes. Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini will be feeling better out of the two managers at the break after his team started the game poorly but remain level will Brugge. The home side will be left wondering how they do not have a two or three goal advantage.
46: The second 45 is underway! Which way will the game go?
49: Chemsdine Talbi with the first chance of the second half as his curls his effort over the bar.
53: WOW THAT WAS CLOSE. De Cuyper is inches away from putting Brugge back in front. His shot is drilled towards the far corner but just rolls past the post. He’s been excellent tonight.
62: First substitutions of the game and it’s Atalanta making the changes.
65: Fantastic save from close range by Simon Mignolet he gets down quickly to his right. Just moments later Lazar Samardzic was nearly super sub! He had all the time in the world but failed to shoot on target. It remains 1-1 somehow!!!
71: More changes, this time for both teams.
Embed from Getty Images
75: Last 15 minutes in this first leg clash…
83: Charles De Ketelaere has a chance to win it but is denied by Mignolet!!! A fantastic save by the former Liverpool keeper, how crucial could that be?
A last throw of the dice from both teams…
90: A late effort by Juan Cuadrado but it is a comfortable save for Patricio.
90+1: PENALTY TO BRUGGE!!!! DRAMA IN BELGUIM!!! Hien’s swinging arm hits Gustaf Nilsson and the referee has pointed to the spot? controversy at the death here.
VAR has agreed with the on field decision. CLUB BRUGGE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN IT
90+4: NO MISTAKE FROM THE SPOT FROM NILSSON! THE SWEDE CONVERTS FROM 12 YARDS, 2-1 TO THE BLUES.
FT: Club Brugge are victorious in the first leg, A controversial ending to a thrilling contest which will be settled in Atalanta. The away side will feel hard done by the decision which will be a huge talking point however It’s Brugge who will be heading into the second leg with the advantage.
Thank you for reading this Live Blog, I hope you enjoyed the game.