Hello, and welcome to this live blog covering Club Brugge vs Atalanta in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds, My name is Ollie Stidder and I’ll be updating you with all the actions that occur in Bruges.
The hosts make five changes to the side that beat OH Leuven on the weekend.
The visitors starting eleven includes former Blues man Charles de Ketelaere.
The fans are in fine voice. What is your prediction ahead of kick-off?
Embed from Getty Images1′ : WE ARE UNDERWAY. COME ON YOU BLUES! #UCL #COYB #CLUATA
7‘ : Christos Tzolis has looked lively so far. He drives the ball forward with teammates either side, but decides to shoot instead and his shot is easily gathered by Rui Patricio.
8′ : Tzolis again gets himself in a good position but cannot get any form of contact on a cross from the left. A bright start nonetheless but remains 0-0.
Embed from Getty Images13′ : Chemsdine Talbi does brilliantly to turn and slide through Tzolis, but he cannot get his shot off and goes out for a corner.
15′ : FERRAN JUTGLA THAT IS SUPERB!!!! 1-0 BRUGGE.
Talbi gets away from his man and cuts it back to Jutgla who flicks the ball up for himself before volleying into the top corner from 10 or so yards. No more than we’ve deserved. #UCL #CLUATA #COYB
20′ : Talbi beats Stefan Posch once again, and the defender is somehow not booked, however Club Brugge have a freekick in a dangerous area.
21′ : The freekick pinballs around the box, and eventually goes out for a corner.
THE JAN BREYDEL STADIUM IS BOUNCING, Keep doing your thing on the pitch Blues! #COYB
Embed from Getty Images28′ : Good defending all around, Joel Ordonez brilliantly heads away a dangerous cross from the visitors, before they get a shot away which is held by Simon Mignolet. Score remains 1-0.
30′ : So nearly 2-0. Ordonez decides to run forward with the ball and offloads to Tzolis who finds Maxim De Cuyper on the left whose shots can only hit the side netting.
40′ : Atalanta go close through Mateo Retegui, his effort from 12 yards goes wide. Five minutes to hold out until half-time.
41′ : Atalanta equalise. Mario Pasalic brilliantly heads home from Davide Zappacosta’s teasing cross from the left. 1-1. #UCL #CLUATA
Embed from Getty ImagesHALF-TIME: We are level after a frantic first half. Jutgla’s fantastic volley was cancelled about by Pasalic’s header just before the break. 1-1. #UCL #CLUATA #COYB
The hosts have been the better of the two teams, but failed to build on their one goal lead before Atalanta pipped them back with another bit of quality. It’s all to play for in the second half, with the first leg advantage at stake. Are we going to see a winner in the second half? #UCL #CLUATA
Embed from Getty Images46′ : Back underway at the Jan Breydel Stadium, Come on you Blues!!! #UCL #CLUATA #COYB
49′ : Talbi has the first chance of the second half, but blazes over the bar after great work from skipper Hans Vanaken.
51′ : More good work from the frontline, however they cannot fashion a shot after some great pressing. #COYB
53′ : INCHES AWAY FROM RETAKING THE LEAD. Tzolis and Jutgla get in each others way and after a couple of ricochets, the ball falls to De Cuyper on the edge on the box who’s half volley narrowly goes past the post. #UCL #COYB
Embed from Getty Images65′ : Somehow it remains level. Mignolet makes an excellent save from point-blank range to deny a Zappacosta header and shortly after Samardzic misses a one-on-one effort.
75′ : 15 minutes to go, and we remain level, is either team going to grab a late winner?
82′ : Big chance for De Ketelaere as he’s denied by Mignolet who could only parry out for a corner. The hosts are hanging on. #COYB
89′ : Cuadrado does well to shoot at goal, but his effort is straight at Mignolet.
90+1′ : LATE DRAMA, ITS A PENALTY FOR THE BLUES! Isak Hien is penalised for an alleged swing at Gustaf Nilsson’s face as they were contesting for the ball. VAR will certainly have a look as always.
VAR agrees with the referee’s decision, what a chance to win it. #UCL #COYB
90+4′ : GUSTAF NILSSON SURELY WINS IT!
Embed from Getty ImagesA confident penalty from Nilsson as he sends Rui Patricio the wrong way to surely give Club Brugge an advantage going into the second leg.
FULL-TIME: Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta
The hosts come away with a massive win ahead of the second leg, however Atalanta will feel harshly done by. Jutgla originally gave Brugge the lead before Pasalic levelled four minutes before half-time. A closely-contested second half made it feel as if it would end level, but a controversial call that ended in a penalty meant Nilsson won the game for Club Brugge.
Thank you for tuning in, and hope you’ve enjoyed reading alongside. Hope you see you again soon!