2024/25 UCL Play-offs: 1st leg wraps up 2-1 in Bruges
Game decided by controversial stoppage-time penalty
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2024-2025 knockout phase playoff tie saw Club Brugge come out on top 2-1 at the Jan Breydelstadion in Bruges. A contentious penalty in stoppage time proved to be the deciding factor.
The game started off with high energy and a fast-paced tempo, with the hosts breaking the deadlock on 15 minutes through Jutglà's winning turn. Atalanta pushed forward from range but neither Zappacosta nor Posch could break through. On 30 minutes Club Brugge had another good chance as De Cuyper grazed the side-netting. As the first half neared its end, the tide began to turn in Atalanta's favour: while Retegui narrowly missed the mark in the 40th, skimming the post with a trivela finish, Pašalić rose to meet Zappacosta’s cross to make it 1-1 60 seconds later.
In the second half, the hosts had a close call on 53 minutes, when De Cuyper curled his shot narrowly past the post. The Nerazzurri almost turned the match around twice between the 65th and 66th minutes: while Cuadrado’s cross met Zappacosta’s header before being kept out by the post, Samardžić’s shot from a great position sailed just wide. Atalanta came knocking again in the 83rd minute, with De Ketelaere, whose left-footed shot forced Mignolet into a top-notch save. Cuadrado took a crack at goal with a central shot, but in stoppage time, a penalty was awarded to Club Brugge. Nilsson stepped up and converted it, sealing the 2-1 final score.
The stage is set for next Tuesday at the Gewiss Stadium, with a spot in the last 16 on the line.
CLUB BRUGGE 2-1 ATALANTA
Scorers: Jutglà 15 (CB), Pašalić 41 (A), Nilsson pen. 94 (CB)
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper, Talbi (Siquet 87), Jashari, Vanaken, Onyedika, Tzolis (Nilsson 71), Jutglà (Vetlesen 87). Unused bench: Jackers, Romero, Vermant, Nielsen, Spileers, Sabbe. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Atalanta: Rui Patrício, Djimsiti, Hien, Posch (Toloi 71), Bellanova (Cuadrado 63), de Roon, Éderson, Zappacosta (Palestra 87), Pašalić (Samardžić 63), De Ketelaere, Retegui (Brescianini 71). Unused bench: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Sulemana, Cassa, Vlahović, Del Lungo. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Umut Meler (TUR);
Assistant referees: Kerem Ersoy (TUR) and Ibrahim Çaglar Uyarcan (TUR);
Fourth official: Arda Kardeşler (TUR);
V.A.R.: Pol van Boekel (NED);
A.V.A.R.: Willy Delajod (FRA).
Notes: Rui Patrício (A), Cuadrado (A), Hien (A) booked.