Champions League action returns to the Jan Breydel Stadium as Atalanta visit Club Brugge in the play-off round. Tonight I, Isabelle Newnham, will take you through all the action with minute-by-minute updates LIVE. Will Atalanta gain a valuable advantage to take back to Italy? Find out here on Overtime, coverage begins at 17:30 GMT.
Check out the match preview
Tonight’s venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Brugge
Embed from Getty ImagesThe starting line-ups are out, take a look:
LIVE: Club Brugge vs Atalanta
1′: Here we go! Atalanta gets us underway as referee Halil Umut Meler blows his whistle.
2′: Atalanta set up in a 3-4-1-2 shape, Charles de Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui lead the line.
4′: The Nerazzurri are settling into the opening minutes well, targeting the flanks when going forward.
5′: Mario Pasalic sprays a lovely pass out to the right-wing for Raoul Bellanova to run onto. Pasalic will be key today in the middle of the park.
Embed from Getty Images6′: Club Brugge break quickly and have a shot on goal but it’s straight at Rui Patricio who easily stops the effort.
8′: Patricio is there again as a square pass is played across the box. The Belgian wall gets out quickly to deny the home side a shot on goal.
11′: Brugge have enjoyed more of the ball but Atalanta are standing firm at the back.
13′: Stefan Posch brings down his opponent, conceding a free kick in the midfield.
Embed from Getty Images14′: Great recovery from Bellanova! The Italian got back to deny Christos Tzolis a clear shot at goal. It’s out for a Brugge corner.
15′: GOAL! Club Brugge take the lead inside 15 minutes through Ferran Jutgla. Chemsdine Talbi claims the assist as he cut the ball back to the edge of the box to Jutgla who flicks the ball up and volleys into the top left corner.
17′: That goal from Jutgla was his first in eight games, he last scored in January against Anderlecht.
Embed from Getty Images20′: Posch makes a foul on the edge of the box to end Talbi’s attack. Brugge have a free kick on the right-hand-side of the penalty area.
21′: There’s a few deflections as the ball is drilled into the box, Brugge captain, Hans Vanaken’s, effort on goal is turned away for a corner.
23′: Davide Zappacosta leads the line for passes made as we hit the halfway mark of the first half. The Italian has made 11 passes with an accuracy of 91%.
Embed from Getty Images25′: Bellanova aims for Retegui into the box but it’s cleared. It falls to Zappacosta whose effort on goal is off-target. This is better though from Atalanta who had a good chance there to equalise.
27′: Zappacosta’s involved again, his cross into the box is flicked on by Retegui but cleared by Brugge. The pressure is piling up, Atalanta just need to goal to show for it.
30′: Brugge regain possession and hold it for quite some time. It comes to Maxim De Cuyper on the left who has plenty of options but takes on the shot himself. His strike is powerful but off-target and hits the side-netting.
33′: Bellanova picks up the ball on the right side and recycles possession well. Atalanta will now look to mount an attack to draw level.
34′: Retegui is first to the loose ball and plays it out to Zappacosta. The Nerazzuri hold onto the ball well and look for an opportunity to break through Brugge’s back line.
Embed from Getty Images36′: It’s a free kick for Atalanta on the half way line as De Cuyper fouls Retegui.
39′: Not long until the interval, Atalanta continue to search for the equaliser. Charles de Ketelaere is currently on the ball looking for the breakthrough.
40′: Frustration from Bellanova as he can not get hit foot round the ball to direct it goalwards. Atalanta quickly regain possession from the goal kick and Retegui has a great chance to level the scoring. His shot is poked just wide of the near post.
41′: GOAL FOR ATALANTA!! Pasalic equalises just before half time and it’s a superb header. No surprises that it’s Zappacosta who whipped the cross into the danger zone, finding Pasalic who glances his header past Simon Mignolet.
Embed from Getty Images43′: Pasalic’s equaliser was his third in the Champions League this season and what a time to score it!
45′: There will be a minimum of one minute additional time.
HT: Atalanta go down the tunnel on level terms as Pasalic headed the ball past Mignolet. Club Brugge took the lead early on through a Jutgla volley but it was cancelled out by Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. More to come in the second half, see you in 15 minutes.
45′: We are back underway for the second half as Club Brugge restart play. No changes were made during the break.
49′: Brugge have their first effort of the second half and it Talbi on the right flank who cuts inside and aims for the far corner. His effort doesn’t test Mignolet who watches the ball sail over the crossbar.
51′: Posch clears the danger as Vanaken squared the ball across goal. That’s his fifth defensive action of the match!
53′: Brugge on the break again! Talbi clips it towards penalty spot where Jutgla and Tzolis go for it but get in each others way. The ball falls to De Cuyper who’s strike is close but just wide of the post.
55′: 19-year-old Talbi has impressed so far, making some brilliant runs down the right flank.
Embed from Getty Images58′: Atalanta are yet to have a shot in the second half, it’s been defensive duties for the Nerazzurri in the opening 15 minutes. Brugge have had four shots and enjoyed 56% possession.
60′: Atalanta break forward down the left wing with Zappacosta at the heart of the move again. He works the ball into the middle nicely but is then forced to play back to find a new way into the 18-yard box.
62′: Double change for Atalanta as Pasalic and Bellanova make way for Juan Cuadrado and Lazar Samardzic.
Embed from Getty Images65′: So close from Zappacosta! The Italian full back snuck past the Brugge defence and had a free header at the back post. He stooped low and guided his header into the bottom corner but Mignolet thwarted him with a fantastic reaction save.
66′: Another golden opportunity and this time it’s substitute Samardzic who can’t convert. Some quick short-passing puts the Croatian clean through but he curls the effort wide! Two chances in as many minutes for Atalanta who are on top for the first time in this game.
Embed from Getty Images68′: The two subs have made an instant impact since coming on which will please Gasperini. Now though the Nerazzurri need to turn these chances into goals.
70′: Another double change for Atalanta. Marco Brescianini and Rafael Toloi replace Retegui and Posch.
71′: Club Brugge make their first change as Tzolis makes way for Gustaf Nilsson.
Embed from Getty Images74′: Despite that burst from Atalanta, Club Brugge have managed to regain the momentum from earlier in the second half.
77′: The winner of this tie will face either Lille or Aston Villa in the round of 16. Club Brugge did beat the English side 1-0 in the league phase.
80′: We are into the final 10 minutes of normal time. Can either side snatch a late goal?
81′: Neither side have threatened in the last five minutes, with Atalanta seemingly settling for a draw with the second leg at home still to come next week.
83′: De Ketelaere comes close as his effort is tipped away by Mignolet. What a moment that would have been for the Belgian scoring against his boyhood club.
Embed from Getty Images84′: De Ketelaere has barely been in the match but that was a good chance. Despite having to do a lot of defending tonight, it can’t be argued that Atalanta have created the better chances.
86′: Zappacosta makes way for Marco Palestra. Brugge goalscorer Jutgla also comes off for Hugo Vetlesen whilst Hugo Siquet replaces Talbi.
87′: Talbi has worked tirelessly tonight and comes off to a standing ovation from the fans.
Embed from Getty Images90′: There will be a minimum of three minutes additional time.
90+1′: PENALTY FOR BRUGGE!! Isak Hein can not believe it, he appears to put a hand in Nilsson’s face but it is very soft. VAR will check it but the referee seems adamant.
90+2′: It’s been given and now Nilsson will step up to take what could be the match winning penalty.
90+4′: GOAL! Nilsson dispatches the penalty and wins the game for Club Brugge. He remains composed and sends Patricio the wrong way, putting Brugge in a fantastic position going into the second leg next week. Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta.
Embed from Getty Images90+7′: We are still going in Brugge, Atalanta have a free kick and one final chance to equalise.
Was it a penalty? – Have your say…
Goal for Club Brugge from the spot in what will surely be the match winner.
— Isabelle Newnham (@inmrjournalist) February 12, 2025
BUT, was it a penalty?!#UCL #CLUATA #GoAtalantaGo
FT: Club Brugge secure a vital win over Atalanta in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round. The last gasp penalty goal from Nilsson sees Brugge win 2-1 but tempers have boiled over at full-time due to the controversial decision made by Meler. Atalanta have a second chance next week at home to overturn the tie and progress to the round of 16. That’s all from me – thanks for following along, goodbye!
Written by Isabelle Newnham
