Black(-and-blue) mirror: our focus on Club Brugge
Nerazzurri off to Belgium on Wednesday for the the Play-off Round 1
Club Brugge will be Atalanta’s opponents in the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League playoffs. The matches are set, respectively, for Wednesday 12 February, at the Jan Breydel Stadium at 18:45 CET, and Tuesday 18 February, at the Gewiss Stadium In Bergamo at 21:00 CET. This will be the first official match-up for both teams in European competitions.
Founded in 1891 in the heart of West Flanders, Club Brugge are the reigning Pro League champions and one of the most decorated Belgian clubs, flaunting 19 league titles, 11 national cups and 17 super cups in their trophy cabinet.
The team is currently managed by Belgian Nicky Hayen, a former player with clubs including Antwerp, who has been in charge since March of last season and led the team to the league title.
After advancing to the final of the National Cup upon drawing 1-1 away at Genk in the return leg played last Wednesday night (with the Blauw en Zwart winning 2-3 on aggregate on the grounds of imposing themselves 2-1 at home in the reverse game), Club Brugge have returned to winning ways in the Belgian league on Saturday by defeating OH Leuven 1-0 at home and have now risen to 51 points in the general standings. Closing off with the team's breakdown on the Continental stage, coach Hayen's outfit finished the UEFA Champions League League Phase in 24th place and on 11 points, registering 3 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses.