Atalanta have work to do in the second leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off tie against Club Brugge.
La Dea seemed destined to secure a 1-1 draw away in Bruges last Wednesday after Mario Pasalic cancelled out Ferran Jutgla’s opener, but a highly contentious penalty decision late on allowed the hosts to claim a 2-1 victory.
With away goals no longer considered in this competition, Atalanta require a healthy victory in Bergamo to progress into the round of 16.
Both teams remain in the hunt for their respective domestic titles this season, but the pair were held to draws at the weekend. While Atalanta failed to break down a resolute Cagliari side in a goalless stalemate, Brugge rallied late to pick up a point at the struggling STVV.
Here is 90min’s guide to Tuesday’s Champions League play-off second leg.
Atalanta vs Club Brugge head-to-head record (All Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Atalanta |
Club Brugge |
|---|---|
|
Atalanta 0-0 Cagliari – 15/02/25 |
STVV 2-2 Club Brugge – 15/02/25 |
|
Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta – 12/02/25 |
Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta – 12/02/25 |
|
Hellas Verona 0-5 Atalanta – 08/02/25 |
Club Brugge 1-0 Oud-Heverlee Leuven – 08/02/25 |
|
Atalanta 0-1 Bologna – 04/02/25 |
Genk 1-1 Club Brugge – 05/02/25 |
|
Atalanta 1-1 Torino – 01/02/25 |
Royal Antwerp 2-1 Club Brugge – 02/02/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ App |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, CBS Sports Network |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Atalanta have sorely missed reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman, but there’s a chance the forward will be back in Gian Piero Gasperini’s starting XI on Tuesday night.
Lookman and Sead Kolasinac both returned to training in the aftermath of Saturday’s stalemate.
However, the hosts are once again without Gianluca Scamacca, who’s set for a period on the sidelines with a hamstring issue having just recovered from an ACL tear. Giorgio Scalvini and Odilon Kossounou are also unlikely to feature, while January addition Daniel Maldini is a doubt.
Atalanta predicted lineup vs Club Brugge (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui.
Brugge’s position in the Belgian Pro League table meant Nicky Hayen opted against resting and rotating at STVV at the weekend, and we should see a similar starting lineup on Tuesday night.
The visitors remain healthy on the injury front, with Bjorn Meiler the only notable absentee.
Christos Tzolis was on the bench at the weekend and could return to Hayen’s team with Jutgla starting up top and Gustaf Nilsson dropping out. Raphael Onyedinka, who scored at the Etihad last month, is also poised to return to the XI.
Club Brugge predicted lineup vs Atalanta (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Yashari; Taibi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla.
Club Brugge were excellent last week, refusing to succumb to Atalanta’s unique intensity out of possession while dishevelling the visitors themselves via shrewd work without the ball.
Brugge must produce a similar level of performance in Bergamo to have a chance of sneaking through, with Atalanta bound to enjoy much of the territory on Tuesday night. However, we have seen Gasperini’s side come unstuck when needing a goal a few times at the Gewiss this term. La Dea have drawn blanks in back-to-back home games and were shut out twice during the league phase.
Perhaps Lookman is the spark they desperately require. They’re a completely different proposition with the Nigerian superstar wreaking havoc off the left flank.
