Article body analysed

This video can not be played Champions League highlights: Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta Gustaf Nilsson won and scored a controversial late penalty as Club Brugge claimed a narrow lead over Atalanta in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie. The Belgian champions started brightly and were rewarded for their industry when teenage winger Chemsdine Talbi collected a loose pass and crossed for Ferran Jutgla to dispatch a right-foot shot into the top left corner in the 15th minute. The visitors levelled four minutes before the end of the first period, with Croatia international Mario Pasalic heading in Davide Zappacosta's cross from the left. However, when Atalanta's Swedish defender Isak Hien held off his compatriot Nilsson with his arm in added time, Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler awarded a penalty to the hosts which was confirmed by the video assistant referee (VAR). Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was visibly angered by the decision, but Nilsson kept calm to send visiting keeper Rui Patricio the wrong way from the spot to give his side victory. Club Brugge had been in complete control during a relatively one-sided start to the contest but were unable to capitalise on several good openings. But the Italians, who are still challenging for the Serie A title, improved significantly after equalising and will feel aggrieved that they are not the side heading to Bergamo with an advantage. Former Chelsea duo Zappacosta and Juan Cuadrado both had efforts saved by home goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, while on-loan Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardzic dragged an effort past the post. The winners of the tie will play either Lille or Aston Villa in the last 16 of the competition. This video can not be played Jutgla gives Club Brugge the lead Club Brugge had not beaten an Italian side at home since April 1978 Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 12th February 2025 at 21: 57 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Nicky Hayen Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Nicky Hayen Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 UEFA Champions League All competitions This will be the first European meeting between Club Brugge and Atalanta. The Belgian side are winless in their last 15 games against Italian sides in major European competition (D6 L9), since winning 1-0 away to Milan in October 2003 in the UEFA Champions League. Club Brugge’s last home win against an Italian side came back in April 1978, in a 2-0 victory over Juventus in the UEFA Cup. Since then, they haven’t won any of the nine times they’ve hosted Italian opposition in Europe (D4 L5), although have avoided defeat in the last three (all draws), including one this season (0-0 v Juventus on MD7). Atalanta’s only previous meetings with a Belgian side in Europe came back in the 1987-88 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals, losing home and away to KV Mechelen (1-2 in both matches, 2-4 on aggregate). This will be just the third knockout stage match Club Brugge have played in the UEFA Champions League, with the previous two coming in the Last 16 in 2022-23. They were beaten in both legs by Benfica on that occasion, losing 0-2 at home and 1-5 away (1-7 on aggregate). Atalanta are looking to qualify for the Last 16 for the third time in four UEFA Champions League tournament appearances (previously in 2019-20 and 2020-21). Indeed, they were the highest finishers in this season’s league phase (9th) among teams involved in the play-off round, and have only lost one of their eight matches in the competition this term (W4 D3). Atalanta have conceded just six goals in eight UEFA Champions League games this term, with only Internazionale (1), Arsenal (3) and Liverpool (5) conceding fewer. Indeed, only Arsenal (19) allowed fewer shots on target than Atalanta (20) during the league phase this season. The two goals scored following the longest sequences of passes in the UEFA Champions League this season have both been netted against Club Brugge – 42 for Savinho’s goal for Man City (in January) and 34 for Jamie Gittens’s strike for Borussia Dortmund (in September). Charles De Ketelaere has been directly involved in nine goals in eight UEFA Champions League games for Atalanta this season (four goals, five assists). He could become the first player to reach 10+ goal involvements in a single UCL campaign for an Italian club since Edin Dzeko in 2017-18 (8 goals, two assists for Roma). 20-year-old Joel Ordóñez (born in April 2004) is the youngest player to have played every minute in the UEFA Champions League this season (720). Indeed, the only Club Brugge player with more minutes played for the club in the competition while aged under-21 is current Atalanta man Charles De Ketelaere (1, 084). Atalanta’s Lazar Samardzic has created seven chances with a line-breaking pass in the UEFA Champions League this season; the joint-most of any player during the 2024-25 league phase (also seven by Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich). Match ends, Club Brugge 2, Atalanta 1. Second Half ends, Club Brugge 2, Atalanta 1. Hand ball by Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge). Hugo Vetlesen (Club Brugge) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Juan Cuadrado (Atalanta). Goal! Club Brugge 2, Atalanta 1. Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal. Isak Hien (Atalanta) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Juan Cuadrado (Atalanta) is shown the yellow card. Rafael Tolói (Atalanta) is shown the yellow card. Penalty Club Brugge. Gustaf Nilsson draws a foul in the penalty area. Penalty conceded by Isak Hien (Atalanta) after a foul in the penalty area. Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time. Attempt saved. Juan Cuadrado (Atalanta) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lazar Samardzic. Corner, Atalanta. Conceded by Brandon Mechele. Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Marco Brescianini (Atalanta). Substitution, Club Brugge. Hugo Vetlesen replaces Ferran Jutglà. Substitution, Club Brugge. Hugo Siquet replaces Chemsdine Talbi. Substitution, Atalanta. Marco Palestra replaces Davide Zappacosta. Attempt missed. Davide Zappacosta (Atalanta) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lazar Samardzic. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.