After the explosion that came with the late winner in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs first leg, Club Brugge had a small margin as it went into the second leg at Atalanta. Club hit the ground running trough an early opener by Talbi, and just before the half hour mark, the youngster completed his brace providing Club with a nice cushion. The hosts even made it 0-3 as Jutglà pounced it in from just outside the box. The second half started with a Lookman tap in to bring Atalanta somewhat back in the game, but more was not in it for a frustrated Italian side. Another unforgettable exploit for Club as it heads for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16!
Not the best of dress rehearsals for Club with a draw on the road at STVV. Lining up mostly his usual 11, coach Hayen only allowed Onyedika and Tzolis some rest. They made their return for the second leg at Atalanta, with Vetlesen and Nilsson taking place on the bench. Coach Gasperini's home side once again featured De Ketelaere, pairing up with Retegui in attack.
An expected first few minutes with a fiery home side saw two corner kicks for the hosts, and the second ended up with Kolašinac, heading it just wide by the first post. Club's reaction was perfect, however, as Vanaken found the space for Jutglà with a pass oozing with vista, and the Catalan was clearheaded enough to see Talbi push through on the right. Teasing his defender towards him, Club's MVP of the first leg aimed for the far corner, giving Club a dream lead just two minutes in. Quite the upset for the Italians, taken aback by this early blow, leaving Club the chance to lure on the break. Atalanta was now forced to put even more chips on its attack, and was unfortunate to see Retegui score from an off-side position. A bit later, De Ketelaere put Éderson through inside the box, but the midfielder found Mignolet on his way, diving into the feet of the Brazilian seeing it chip over.
Club fans all around were still rubbing their eyes after that splendid start when Jashari started his run from the middle, keeping two Atalanta players at bay as he made his way to the box to cleverly set up Tzolis. The Greek winger aimed at Carnesecchi, but Talbi followed well to make it 0-2 for Club, firing it in the top of the goal. Disquieted, Atalanta had trouble getting back from this second blow, and more than a Pašalić (and a bit later Cuadrado) header ending up in the eager hands of Mignolet was not in it at first. A well-organised visiting side picked its moments, with Onyedika trying from outside the box but firing it high over, and with Jutglà making his way inside the box from the right after a great long ball, but his shot whizzed past the far post. Added time came with quite some upheaval! Zappacosta seemed goalbound, but Mignolet got a hand to the shot, deflecting it against the post, and in the ensuing attack the ball was cleared from the goal line twice. Club went through a tight spot, and was even more unrelenting just thirty seconds later, as Tzolis steamed ahead, put it wide to Jutglà who took the ball on the bounce to send it home without mercy. A massive strike, brilliantly drilled into the side netting to make it 0-3. You read that right!
One personnel change in Atalanta's line-up at the start of the second half, and what a name to be manning the pitch as Lookman came on for Pašalić in a substitution that immediately paid off, as the Nigerian tapped in a Zappacosta cross from close range (1-3). With 44 minutes on the clock, Club was still cruising towards qualification, but the hosts would surely start surrounding Club's box to try and get that remontada. Seeing his side starting to suffer, coach Hayen brought on Siquet for Talbi. Those hoping Club would hold on until the 60 minute mark must have had a scare as Lookman seemed to score a second, seemingly from an off-side position. VAR intervened, however, but scrutiny of the footage revealed a foul on Cuadrado by Tzolis, and a spot kick was awarded. Lookman behind the ball, going for the right corner, but Mignolet proved the better of the shot, helping Club hold on to that 3 goal margin on aggregate. The Italian storm did not abate straight away, as Lookman had another fine chance inside the box, but saw it blocked by Seys before Mignolet again stood ground in the rebound.
Clearly Lookman's coming on came with a surge of quality to Atalanta, and the left wing was called upon time after time, but Club kept finding solutions to keep him at bay. And if they didn't, they could still call upon a focused goalie. Atalanta had trouble keeping up those good intentions, with Club restoring the balance bit by bit. What also didn't help the home side was the substitutions by coach Gasperini, taking the steam off the squad and letting the pace of the game drop. And still Atalanta hadn't reached the bottom, as the team was down to ten by the end of the 90 minutes: De Cuyper getting in the way of Tolói, who lost it and steamwalled Club's defender to the ground, earning an immediat expulsion.
Despite the seven minutes of added time, Atalanta found no way to break the Club deadlock, with the score remaining at that astonishing 1-3. Club's motto "play for unforgettable" has lived up to its name, as another historic night of European football helps Club ease into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16!
UEFA Champions League – Knockout phase play-offs (second leg)
Audience: 19,768 – Gewiss Stadium
Ref: Mr. Felix Zwayer (Ger)
Atalanta Bergamo: Marco Carnesecchi – Rafael Tolói, Berat Djimsiti, Sead Kolašinac (77’ Stefan Posch) – Juan Cuadrado (75’ Raoul Bellanova), Marten de Roon, Éderson (83’ Marco Brescianini), Mario Pašalić (46’ Ademola Lookman), Davide Zappacosta – Charles De Ketelaere, Mateo Retegui (75’ Lazar Samardžić).
Bench: Rui Patrício, Francesco Rossi, Stefan Posch, Ibrahim Sulemana, Ademola Lookman, Raoul Bellanova, Matteo Ruggeri, Lazar Samardžić, Federico Cassa, Marco Palestra, Marco Brescianini, Vanja Vlahović.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken – Chemsdine Talbi (54’ Hugo Siquet), Ferran Jutglà (86’ Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis (75’ Casper Nielsen).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Kyriani Sabbe, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers, Hugo Vetlesen, Casper Nielsen, Michał Skóraś, Gustaf Nilsson, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: Kolašinac, Onyedika, Tzolis, Djimsiti, De Cuyper, de Roon, Nilsson
Red: Tolói
Goals: 3’ Talbi (0-1), 27’ Talbi (0-2), 45+3’ Jutglà (0-3), 46’ Lookman (1-3)