A top notch performance helped Club Brugge overcome Atalanta Bergamo. In a thrilling first half, Jutglà had put Club in the lead early on, only to see Pasalic' header make it all square at half time. Club repeated its great performance in the second half, and the reward came in injury time as Nilsson sent home the 2-1 from the spot.
No surprises to Nicky Hayen's Starting XI for the visit of Italian giants Atalanta Bergamo. Club started the game with great intentions, causing all kinds of trouble for the Italians with a lot of movement and position switching. Five minutes in, Tzolis sent through Jutglà, but the ball carried too much weight. The first real threat came just two minutes later, as Tzolis was through on goal after a fine interception, but this time Rui Patricio stood firm. Moments later, the Greek came inches close of tapping in Jashari's fine cross.
Club was clearly in charge, the visiting side finding it hard to get into their usual rhythm. Still in the first fifteen minutes, Talbi found Tzolis with a great ball through, but the winger decided to cut inside, allowing the defense to get back in line to deny his effort. And still it wasn't over: Talbi with the interception on the right wing, finding Jutglà inside the box, who controlled it to fire it in from close range. A deserved lead Club hoped to build further upon, as Vanaken's shot after twenty minutes was blocked just in time.
Halfway through the first half, Atalanta started creeping forward resulting in a Zappacosta shot going high over, and Posch seeing his shot saved by Mignolet. The hosts reacted as De Cuyper was through on the left hand side, but aimed his cracker in the side netting. With five minutes to go, a first warning came as ball loss put Retegui through on goal, but the attacker put it just wide. Forewarned, Club still had to settle for the draw at half time, after it was unable to clear the ball and Zappacosta sent it in front of goal only to see Mario Pasalic head in the 1-1. A blow to Club's aspirations after what had been an absolutely sensational first half from the home side.
Not taken aback, Club went looking for that second half early on in the second half, with a Talbi shot going over, and Vanaken reaching the goal line to try and pull back to De Cuyper, but to no avail. An industrous Talbi brought pain to the visiting defense, flying on the right wing to bring it in front where Jutglà and Tzolis were in each other's way to make the most of it. In the rebound, Onyedika's shot was blocked, but it fell to De Cuyper, aiming for the far corner, but the ball trickled centimeters wide. An excellent chance for Club, seeing another chance go awry as Rui Patricio got hold of Talbi's effort.
With Cuadrado and Samardzic on halfway through the second half, Atalanta now showed some more attacking intentions, and Club thanked Mignolet for his excellent save to deny Zappacosta's header from close range. Straight after, Samardzic was given too much room in the heart of defense, but the midfielder put the ball too wide in what was a great chance to make it 1-2. On the home end, Jutglà cleverly outsmarted his defender to make it to the goal line, but the Spaniard was unable to set up a team mate, the Italian defense clearing the ball.
With Atalanta taking over by the end of the game, Club had to make sure at least that draw would remain on the board. It took another fine save by Mignolet to deny De Ketelaere, while Zappacosta aimed his attempt over, and another Cuadrado effort was aimed straight into the eager hands of Mignolet. And just when everyone seemed to settle for that 1-1, Siquet pushed on to unsettle the visiting defense, with the ball going towards Gustaf Nilsson, kept at bay by a defender, also grabbing him by the face. Enough for ref Umut Meler to point towards the spot, much to the delight of the home fans. Nilsson picked up the ball, outwitting Rui Patricio to fire it in the centre of goal. 2-1 for Club after a brilliant performance, bringing energy to Club's aspirations of making it through to the Round of 16.
UEFA Champions League – Knock-Out Round play-offs
Audience: 29,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Halil Umut Meler (Tur)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken – Chemsdine Talbi (86’ Hugo Siquet), Ferran Jutglà (86’ Hugo Vetlesen), Christos Tzolis (70’ Gustaf Nilsson).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Romeo Vermant, Casper Nielsen, Jorne Spileers en Kyriani Sabbe.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Atalanta Bergamo: Rui Patricio – Berat Djimsiti, Isak Hien, Stefan Posch (71’ Rafael Toloi) – Raoul Bellanova (62’ Juan Cuadrado), Marten De Roon, Ederson, Davide Zappacosta (86’ Marco Palestra), Mario Pasalic (62’ Lazar Samardzic) – Mateo Retegui (71’ Marco Brescianini), Charles De Ketelaere.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Yellow: Toloi, Cuadrado, Hien.
Red: none
Goals: 15’ Jutglà (1-0), 41’ Pasalic (1-1), 90+4’ Nilsson (pen., 2-1).