The games just keep coming for Club, and after the draw at Sint-Truiden in the league, Club is now making its way to Bergamo, Italy, defending a 2-1 from the first leg against locals Atalanta, to be played at the Stadion Atleti Azzuri d'Italia.
The fixture
Match Day 10 of the current European season will decide whether Club will be able to secure its spot among the best 16 teams of the Champions League.
Here's a run-up on Europe:
- Club will be playing in Europe for the 371st time, while Atalanta is up for a 88th encounter.
- Belgium vs Italy has been a fixture in 116 European games, making this the 117th time an Italian teams meets with Belgian opposition.
- Blue & Black will be playing their 106th UEFA Champions League game, with Atalanta in its 72nd game as of the Group Stages.
- This year sees Club's 11th UCL participation; for Atalanta that's number four.
A night to remember for Club Brugge last week at Jan Breydel as it edged past Atalanta 2-1. A neat interception by Chemsdine Talbi lead to the perfect cross to Ferran Jutglà inside the box, controlling it and then following up on the bounce to put it past Rui Patricio with a fabulous strike. Club was in fine fettle in that first half, but conceded a blow after some floppy defending lead to Mario Pašalić' equaliser on the brink of half time. Just when the game seemed to find no victor, a penalty by the very end of the game decided differently, as Gustaf Nilsson slammed home a debated spot kick (2-1).
The game was the 25th in Europe for Club against an Italian squadra. Club now won four times at home (4D 5L), close to 47 years after it had last beaten an Italian team at home, when Club sailed past Juventus in the Europeacup Semi Finals, back in April 1978 (2-0 a.prol.).
Away from home, Club last beat an Italian outfit back in 2003 in what was an illustrious 0-1 win at AC Milan. In 22 home UCL games in which Club Brugge managed to score first, it went on to win on 22 occasions.
Absolute Man Of The Match in last week's first leg was Club's Chemsdine Talbi. With just 19 years and 279 days, he's the second youngest player to have delivered an assist for Club Brugge in the UCL, behind Bjorn Meijer (19y 179d vs FC Porto in September 2022).
Netting his 3rd UCL goal for Club, Ferran Jutlglà draws level with Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis and Gert Verheyen, but he will have to do some more scoring to overtaken Hans Vanaken, firmly in charge with 10 goals so far.
With 9 UCL goals so far, Club Brugge has set a new club record (in 2020-21 and 2022-23 Club scored 8). An industrious Christos Tzolis has created 20 chances so far for Club in the UCL, the highest number of key passes for a Club Brugge player, and for a Greek player in general.
For the third time on a spin, Atalanta BC lost to a Belgian team after it had already gone down twice against KV Mechelen back in April 1988 (Europacup II Semis). It was also the first defeat in 15 European away games for Atalanta (8W 6D). The last European defeat away from home past the Group Stage dates back to March 2021 as Atalanta suffered a 3-1 at Real Madrid.
Mario Pašalić has been on the productive side of late, scoring in each of the last 3 UCL games he appeared in, totalling 7 in the UCL. The last three times Atalanta suffered defeat in the first leg, it also meant the end of the road for the Italians.
Atalanta won its last UCL home game against Sturm Graz 5-0. The 5 home games before that, Atalanta proved unable to win (3D 2L). So far, the team has not managed to claim back-to-back UCL wins at its own Gewiss Stadium.
A goalless draw for Atalanta BC over the weekend, as Cagliari Calcio kept the hosts at bay 0-0. Played for Atalanta:
Marco Carnesecchi - Rafael Tolói, Isak Hien, Stefan Posch - Matteo Ruggeri, Ibrahim Sulemana (74' Marten de Roon), Mario Pašalić, Juan Cuadrado (56' Marco Palestra) - Lazar Samardžić (46' Charles De Ketelaere), Mateo Retegui (56' Vanja Vlahović), Marco Brescianini (67' Éderson)
Position three is still for Atalanta in the Serie A.
24,700 spectators fit in Atalanta BC's Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, the Geiss Stadium its sponsored name. Originally erected in 1928, the stadium has been revamped several times, the last time between 2019 and 2024.
Situated in the North of Italy in Lombardia, Bergamo is home to 121,200 inhabitants.
Atalanta is also setting its hopes on recovering its striker Ademola Lookman (Nga) and defender Sead Kolasinac (Bih), both out in Bruges due to injury.
Both teams will not be missing out on any players due to suspension.
The team conquering will be set up with Lille OSC (Fra) or Aston Villa FC (Eng) in the Round of 16, decided in a draw taking place on Friday.
Milestones
- Hans Vanaken might well be playing his 490th official game since he joined Club, a 90th in Europe throughout his career (6 for Sporting Lokeren, 83 for Club).
- For Brandon Mechele, this could be the 475th official game in Club attire.
- Michal Skoras is waiting for his 75th game at Club Brugge, while Kyriani Sabbe is up for a 60th appearance. Christos Tzolis and Romeo Vermant could be lined up for the 40th time.
- Both Maxim De Cuyper and Ferran Jutglà could be playing in Europe for Club for the 30th time. For Christos Tzolis, Joaquin Seys and Chemsdine Talbi, this could be the 10th time they man the pitch in Europe for Club.
The Man in Black
Appointed for this second leg clash is a German ref, Mr. Felix Zwayer, backed by his compatriots Mr. Robert Kempter and Mr. Christian Dietz. Mr. Florian Badstübner will be fourth official, with Mr. Bastian Dankert in charge of VAR, assisted by Mr. Alen Borošak. Observing for UEFA will be Mr. Dejan Filipović, with Mr. Miroslaw Ryszka representing UEFA.
A UEFA Elite ref, Mr. Zwayer was one of the referees in charge at the Euros in 2024 in Germany (a.o. the Semi Finals between Holland and England), lead the UEFA Nations League Final between Croatia and Spain) in 2023, the Greek Cup Final in 2019 and the German Pokal Final in 2018.
Just recently, the man was also in charge of AC Milan-Club. Our Raphael Onyedika will not have the fondest of memories of that game, being sent off after VAR intervened due to a harsh tackle.
For the 33rd time, a German referee will be in charge of a European encounter involving Club Brugge.