Hi, I’m William Munt and welcome to the Jan Breydel Stadium for the first leg of Club Brugge’s UEFA Champions League play-off tie with Atalanta. The hosts are here after finishing 24th in the revamped Champions League group stage table, but the Italian visitors only narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the round of 16.
Club Brugge make six changes from their 1 – 0 victory over OH Leuven at the weekend, after rotating their squad in an attempt to give themselves the best possible chance of progressing.
Atalanta meanwhile make just the two changes from their thumping 5 – 0 victory at Hellas Verona on Saturday with Raoul Bellanova and Mario Pasalic replacing Juan Cuadrado and Lazar Samardzic.
The teams are heading at in Belgium and kick-off is just moments away. Who are you backing to take a lead to Bergamo for the second leg?
The Champions League anthem plays as the two teams line up, with Club Brugge in their blue home kit and Atalanta in their white.
Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler is in charge for this match, with Frenchman Willy Delajod the Assistant VAR official for this evening.
1′ We are underway in Bruges in what promises to be an intriguing clash. Will the hosts claim a first victory over Italian opposition since 2003 or will Atalanta’s search for a second consecutive European trophy continue, after their 2024 Europa League triumph.
3′ Atalanta look the more comfortable side in the opening few minutes, managing to string a few passes together in Brugge territory. The hosts meanwhile have given the ball away sloppily on a couple of occasions already.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Jan Breydel stadium is bouncing, with the Belgian fans hopeful of another European run, after their march to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League last season.
6′ Good pressure from Club Brugge seems them force Atalanta into a mistake and they win a throw in inside their own half.
7′ Wasteful from Club Brugge and Christos Tzolis! The Greek attacker could play a pass either side, but instead opts for a weak shot that Rui Patricio comfortably gathers.
8′ Club Brugge turn over the ball again, but the cross from the left hand side just evades Ferran Jutgla in the six yard box, allowing Patricio to comfortably gather.
A reminder that this evening’s game will be followed by a further three play-off first legs, with Feyenoord hosting AC Milan, Celtic entertaining Bayern Munich and AS Monaco playing Benfica.
11′ Jutgla sees his path blocked by Isak Hien as he attempts to break into the box. Atalanta are just struggling to deal with Club Brugge at the moment, who continue to look dangerous when they turn over the ball in their attacking third.
13′ Tzolis sees his pathway to goal blocked inside the Atalanta penalty area. After latching onto a through ball, the Greek tries to cut back onto his right foot, but is denied by a sliding defender.
14′ GOAL! What a strike from Jutgla! The Belgians hit the front and rightfully so after a dominant opening 15 minutes. Chemsdine Talbi latches onto a loose pass out from the back by Atalanta and finds Jutgla just inside the Atalanta box. The Spanish forward sets the ball up and then fires past Patricio in the Atalanta goal. First blood to the hosts!
Just a reminder that away goals are no longer a feature of UEFA European competition, meaning that although Atalanta will be desperate to get back into the tie, scoring tonight will not be any more beneficial than scoring next week.
18′ Davide Zappacosta finds Mateo Retegui inside the Club Brugge box, but the forward gets his header all wrong and ends up sending the ball wide via his shoulder rather than his head.
20′ Austrian international Stefan Posch catches Talbi in a dangerous position on the corner of the Atalanta penalty area. Posch needs to be careful, after managing to escape a yellow card twice now.
21′ Hans Vanaken latches onto a loose ball in the penalty area, following the resulting free kick. His effort takes a deflection and goes out for a corner, which Atalanta manage to deal with comfortably.
Embed from Getty ImagesWill Club Brugge be celebrating like this come the end of tonight’s fixture?
22′ Atalanta just cannot settle into the game and continue to look extremely shaky at the back. Rui Patricio kicks the ball out for a Club Brugge throw in, after being put under needless pressure by a poor pass from Bellanova.
STAT ATTACK! Jutgla’s goal was only Club Brugge’s second ever in the knockout stages of the Champions League!
25′ This is better from Atalanta, but the end product is still wasteful. Zappacosta fires a right footed volley wastefully over the bar, after Retegui did well to hold the ball up.
Embed from Getty ImagesMarten de Roon’s face rather says it all – it has been an incredibly frustrating evening for his side so far.
28′ Posch hits one from distance straight at Simon Mignolet in the Club Brugge goal. A clean strike, but dealt with comfortably by the former Sunderland and Liverpool shot stopper.
They certainly are so far tonight!
30′ Maxim De Cuyper fires into the side netting from a tight angle, after good build up play from the hosts. Talbi slips the ball to Tzolis, who finds De Cuyper, but the shot is comfortably watched wide by Patricio. A better option may have been to cut the ball back, due to the angle not being overly friendly for a shot.
The Belgians are not only outplaying Atalanta at the moment, but are outrunning them as well. They have currently played more passes than the Italians and covered close to a kilometre more distance.
35′ Vanaken wins a free kick, after de Roon bring him down midway inside the Atalanta half. However, De Cuyper then returns the favour by clipping the heels of Retegui, who earns a cheap free kick and some respite for Atalanta.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis man is enjoying a relatively comfortable evening so far. I wonder if he would have expected to have muddied his yellow kit a bit more than he has already.
With just over five minutes to go until half time, Atalanta manger Gian Piero Gasperini must be itching to get his players into the dressing room with the score as it is, given his side’s lacklustre performance so far.
40′ A clear sign of frustration from the Bergamo outfit, as Bellanova fails to successfully latch onto a Zappacosta cross. Bellanova throws his hands up in the air and Atalanta’s miserably evening continues.
They could be level almost immediately after though, with Retegui firing just wide from inside the Club Brugge penalty area.
41′ GOAL! Gasperini will be able to talk to his players with the score level, as Mario Pasalic nods in for Atalanta! The visitors work the ball nicely from the throw in and Zappacosta’s pinpoint cross from the left hand side is glanced into the far corner by Pasalic. We’re all square in Bruges and the hosts will no doubt rue failing to make the most of their dominance so far!
That goal will be a body blow for Brugge manager Nicky Hayen, given how well his side had contained Atalanta prior to the goal.
44′ The goal is breathing new life into Atalanta, who are now on top as the half time whistle approaches. Tzolis brings down de Roon near the halfway line and now the shoe is on the other foot, with the Greek expressing his frustration and the hosts now being put under pressure.
45′ HALF TIME – The referee brings an end to proceedings and an entertaining first half of Champions League football. Club Brugge were in control throughout the first 45 minutes and hit the front through a powerful strike from Ferran Jutgla. Atalanta struggled to get into the game and were second best throughout the half, but go in level following Mario Pasalic’s precise header with four minutes of the first half remaining. The hosts will be frustrated to not go in ahead, but Pasalic’s goal has set out a tense second half of football, as both sides will want to be in the driving seat going into the return leg.
Embed from Getty ImagesAtalanta will be much happier than Club Brugge at half time. With five minutes of the first half left, the Belgians were cruising and Atalanta manger Gian Piero Gasperini would surely have been preparing a terse rallying cry, but Pasalic’s goal will have changed all of that going into the second half.
Having watched the first half, who are you backing to come out on top in the remainder of this evening’s clash?
Also, let us know who you are expecting to go all the way in the Champions League this season? Did Real Madrid’s last gasp win at Manchester City change your mind?
The players are now back out on the pitch, so grab a drink and bite to eat, as we get ready to go again for the second period.
45′ KICK OFF! We are underway again at the Jan Breydel Stadium – will Atalanta be able to build upon their strong finish to the first half or will the Belgian outfit be able to claim that elusive win over an Italian side since beating Inter Milan in 2003?
49′ The first chance of the half goes the way of Club Brugge, but the chance goes abegging as Talbi fires wastefully over the bar. De Cuyper’s crisp touch saw the move gather momentum and Tzolis found Talbi well, but the winger was unable to provide the end product.
51′ A free flowing move almost sees Club Brugge regain the lead. Neat interchange from Tzolis and Vanaken allows the latter to enter the box unchallenged, but his cross is well cleared by Atalanta.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis man’s side have been impressive so far this evening and have started the second half in a similar vein to how they started the first.
53′ HUGE CHANCE! Club Brugge clearly have not been deterred by Atalanta levelling the score, as De Cuyper sends a left footed volley inches past the upright. The energetic Talbi sends yet another dangerous ball into the box, but Jutgla and Tzolis get in one another’s way. The ball deflects out to De Cuyper, but his volley trickles out for a goal kick. A warning sign for Atalanta – again!
57′ Talbi is continuing to run the Atalanta defence ragged and manages to carve out another chance for himself. The winger cuts inside from the right hand flank, but scuffs his shot and it dribbles into the arms of Patricio in the Atalanta goal. Further signs though for the Italians that Club Brugge are not going to roll over and give them a clear passageway through to the round of 16.
Embed from Getty ImagesTalbi has been the most impressive of Club Brugge’s forward line so far. After his first half assist, he has continued to be direct and put doubts into the mind of the Atalanta back line.
59′ A miscommunication sees Club Brugge win a corner, but the whipped delivery drifts out relatively harmlessly for a goal kick.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt has been a quiet night for Halil Umut Meler and the Video Assistant Referee so far. Will there be any controversy as the game enters its final third?
63′ A double change for the visitors with Juan Cuadrado and Lazar Samardzic replacing the goal scorer Pasalic and Bellanova.
A reminder that there are another three ties this evening, with arguably the tie of the night being Celtic Park hosting the arrival of Bayern Munich in Celtic’s first knock out Champions League knock out game for five years.
65′ GREAT SAVE! A first real chance of the second half for Atalanta and it comes from experienced substitute Cuadrado, who whips an accurate cross into the far post that Zappacosta heads down into the ground and towards the bottom corner. Mignolet is equal to the attempt though and parries the ball away from danger.
However, moments later Samardzic misses an even bigger chance for Atalanta to take the lead for the first time! He picks the ball up in acres of space on the corner of the Club Brugge penalty area, but he fires his left footed shot safely wider of the upright. Two big chances come and go for Atalanta to turn the tie around.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe man in the mask will need to be on top form if Atalanta are to progress to the round of 16. Brandon Mechele has played the most minutes of any Club Brugge player so far this season.
We are into the last 20 minutes here in Bruges – will either side be able to find a winner? You would think that Club Brugge will be the side more desperate to find a winner, as they face a trickier trip to Bergamo in the second leg.
Embed from Getty ImagesAtalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere has struggled to have any real impact on the game in his return to Bruges. The midfielder spent 14 years at Club Brugge between 2008 and 2022, but has been largely invisible so far this evening.
78′ Ardon Jashari wins a cheap free kick for Club Brugge in his side’s defensive third. As we approach the final ten minutes, this game is drifting and needs a spark to reignite the game as we enter the closing stages.
82′ Jutgla almost manages to escape in behind the defence, but a brilliant interception from Hien prevents the Spaniard from advancing towards Patricio’s goal.
83′ There is his moment, but Mignolet denies De Ketelaere! The Belgian midfielder picks up the ball on the edge of the box, but his driven shot is parried behind for a corner by his compatriot in the Club Brugge goal. De Roon’s ambitious effort following the corner deflects harmlessly through to Mignolet and the Belgians are able to regroup.
As we enter the final five minutes, will there be a mistake or a moment of magic to decide this first leg? Otherwise, we will head to Bergamo with the tie finely poised, but Atalanta as the favourites to make it through to the round of 16.
86′ Speaking of a moment of magic, Zappacosta takes it upon himself to try and produce one, but after cutting in nicely from the right hand side, his right footed shot sails harmlessly wide of the upright. That will prove to be his last action tonight, as he is set to be replaced.
Club Brugge also make a couple of changes with the impressive Talbi and Jutgla making way. Both made their mark tonight and will be key to Club Brugge’s chances of progression next week.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite having a quiet evening, De Ketelaere almost made his mark, but Simon Mignolet was equal to his effort. Mignolet’s career has been revitalised since returning to his homeland and joining Club Brugge.
89′ Mignolet is called into action once again, albeit much more routinely this time around. Cuadrado is in acres of space from an Atalanta corner, but fires his left footed shot safely into the arms of the goalkeeper.
91′ PENALTY TO CLUB BRUGGE! As we enter a minimum of three minutes of added time, the Turkish referee awards a penalty to the hosts, when a stray arm from Hien catches Gustaf Nilsson. The Atalanta players are furious and surround the referee, but the decision stands following a brief VAR check.
Nilsson picks him up and prepares himself to take the penalty – can Club Brugge earn a valuable lead to take to Bergamo for the second leg.
94 – GOAL FOR CLUB BRUGGE! The hosts snatch victory right at the death and Atalanta manager Gasperini is fuming! After a delay and the referee dishing out a couple of yellow cards to Hien and Cuadrado, Nilsson coolly dispatches the penalty past Patricio and gives Club Brugge a 2 – 1 lead on the night.
Well, after a fairly dull second period the game has sparked into life. We are into a sixth minute of injury time and the Club Brugge fans are now pleading for the final whistle.
After a quiet game up until the final few minutes, the referee’s controversial decision has allowed Club Brugge to snatch a lead in the closing stages.
FULL TIME! And there it is – the referee blows the final whistle to bring a dramatic tie to an end! Tempers flare with the Atalanta players and staff continuing to remonstrate with the referee on the pitch.
The result is arguably the right one, with Club Brugge being the better side throughout. They dominated the first half and rightfully took the lead through a powerful strike from Ferran Jutgla, but failed to consolidate their dominance and Atalanta equalised through Mario Pasalic just before half time. A much quieter and less eventful second half seemed to be petering out into a draw, until the referee awarded Club Brugge a controversial penalty in the dying moments of the game. Gustaf Nilsson duly dispatched it and Club Brugge now have a lead to take to Bergamo, albeit a highly contentious one.
That’s it from me tonight on an emotionally charged evening in Bruges, which has seen Club Brugge snatch a late victory to take into the second leg. Thanks for sticking with us throughout the evening and enjoy the remainder of tonight’s feast of football!
Goodbye and have a good evening!