Champions League | Knockout Round Playoffs | 2nd Leg

Feb 18, 2025 at 8pm UK

Gewiss Stadium

Atalanta vs Brugge

(agg: 1-2)

Match preview

Atalanta will have home advantage in the second leg after being seeded in the play-off draw, having finished ninth in the league.

However, they will have been disappointed to miss out on an automatic place in the last 16 after finishing seventh on the final matchday of the league phase, only to be held to a 2-2 away draw by Barcelona.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side looked set for another European draw in last week's first leg against Club Brugge after Mario Pasalic's 41st-minute equaliser cancelled out Ferran Jutgla's early opener, but there was a late twist when the Belgian side were awarded a controversial penalty after the referee ruled that Isak Hien had fouled Gustaf Nilsson.

With VAR upholding the on-field decision, Nilsson stepped up to score from the spot to condemn Atalanta to their first European away defeat of the season and leave them with a deficit to overcome if they are to reach the last 16 of the Champions League for the third time.

Atalanta endured another frustrating day in Serie A on Saturday after their title hopes were dented by a goalless draw at home to Cagliari, leaving them third in the standings and five points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

They will now turn their attention to Tuesday's crucial European clash, where they will have their work cut out if they are to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the second time in their history, having won just one of their last six competitive home games.

Club Brugge reached the knockout rounds after finishing 24th in the league phase on goal difference from 25th-placed Dinamo Zagreb.

The Belgian champions won three, drew two and lost three of their eight league games, two of which came at home to Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon.

They extended their unbeaten European home run to four games with a narrow first-leg victory over Atalanta last week, ending a 15-match winless streak against Italian opposition in UEFA competition.

Club Brugge were unable to pick up another win away to Sint-Truiden on Saturday, but the result may have felt like a victory after they came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw thanks to Hans Vanaken and Christos Tzolis' 90th-minute equaliser.

They now travel to Italy for the first time since a 3-1 defeat at the hands of AC Milan in October, which was their seventh defeat in their last 11 European away games against Italian opposition (W1, D4).

Tuesday's visitors know they need to avoid defeat to guarantee their place in the last 16, and can take heart from the fact that they have progressed in 14 of their last 16 European knockout ties when winning the first leg at home.

Recent Performance

Atalanta BC Champions League form:WWLWDL

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):DDLWLD

Club Brugge Champions League form:WDWDLW

Club Brugge form (all competitions):DLLWWD

Team News

Atalanta will be without the services of defensive duo Odilon Kossounou and Giorgio Scalvini, while striker Gianluca Scamacca remains unavailable.

The hosts will be sweating over the fitness of talisman Ademola Lookman, who has missed the last six games with a knee problem.

Daniel Maldini and Sead Kolasinac will be assessed ahead of the return leg, while Ibrahim Sulemana is a doubt after being sent off against Cagliari.

Gasperini rotated his squad for Saturday's goalless draw with Tuesday's European clash in mind, and is likely to recall Rui Patricio, Berat Djimsiti, Raoul Bellanova, Marten de Roon, Ederson, Davide Zappacosta and Charles De Ketelaere.

The visitors will be without defender Bjorn Meijer, who has missed the last six games through injury.

After making a number of changes at the weekend, Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen could decide to recall Raphael Onyedika and Tzolis to the starting line-up.Onyedika is likely to link up with Ardon Jashari in midfield, while Tzolis will provide an attacking threat from the left after scoring a late equaliser as a substitute at the weekend.

Jutgla should be given the responsibility of leading the line after opening his European account for the season in last week's first leg.

Possible starting lineup

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Posch, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Pasalic; De Ketelaere, Retegui

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:

Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari, Oyedika; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla