Club Brugge edged out Atalanta 2-1 in a dramatic first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off held at the Jan Breydel Stadium on February 12, 2025. The match unfolded with intensity and controversy, culminating in a last-minute penalty decision, which left the Italian side furious.
The home side got off to a flying start with Ferran Jutglà scoring the opener just 15 minutes in. After pouncing on a careless pass from Atalanta’s Stefan Posch, Chemsdine Talbi delivered the ball to Jutglà, who finished coolly, ending his nine-game goal drought. This early goal set the tone for Brugge, igniting celebrations among their fans and creating pressure on Atalanta.
Despite Brugge's bright start, Atalanta responded well, gaining control as the first half progressed. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Mario Pasalic equalized. Capitalizing on defensive complacency, Davide Zappacosta's well-placed cross floated perfectly to Pasalic, who executed a deft header to level the score at 1-1.
With the score tied, the intensity picked up after the break. Club Brugge continued to press, seemingly controlling the match but struggling to create clear-cut chances. Their pressure led to several half-opportunities, with Maxim De Cuyper coming closest to regaining the lead, only for his shot to go narrowly off target.
Atalanta made strategic substitutions, introducing Juan Cuadrado and Lazar Samardzic, who started to create troubling chances for the Brugge defense. Samardzic even found himself one-on-one with Brugge's goalkeeper Simon Mignolet but faltered, dragging his effort wide.
Then came the controversial climax of the match. With seconds remaining, referee Halil Umut Meler awarded Brugge a penalty after Isak Hien was deemed to have made insufficiently minimal contact with Gustaf Nilsson. The decision was met with immediate protests from the Atalanta players and coaching staff, with Gian Piero Gasperini expressing disbelief at the ruling.
"We are now going in a direction outside of what football should be," lamented Gasperini after the match. His frustration mirrored the feelings of many involved, as replays suggested the contact was hardly enough to warrant the spot-kick.
Despite the protests, Nilsson remained composed as he stepped up to take the penalty kick. He successfully converted it, sending Rui Patricio the wrong way, sealing the 2-1 victory for Brugge. The final whistle saw Brugge players and fans celebrate this hard-fought win amid the tension on the pitch.
This match represented the first European meeting between the two clubs, and with the second leg scheduled for March 18 in Bergamo, it sets up an exciting clash. Atalanta, who finished ninth last season and were considered the highest seed among the teams involved, will need to overcome this deficit on home soil if they wish to progress to the next round.
The outcome adds pressure to Atalanta, now having to reflect on what's been described as 'poor form' following just one win from their last five matches across competitions. Meanwhile, Club Brugge will take this slender lead with them, filled with confidence from their remarkable late victory.
The tension from this match and the decisions made on the field are sure to be the talk of the sport leading up to their next encounter as both teams prepare for what will be another challenging playoff tie.