Atalantavs.Brugge

The hosts are looking to reach the Champions League last-16 for the first time since 2020-21, while the Belgian visitors are hoping to feature in the next stage for the second time in three seasons.

Match preview

Atalanta will have home advantage for the second leg after they entered the playoff round draw as a seeded team courtesy of their ninth-place finish in the league phase.

However, they would have been disappointed to miss out on the automatic last-16 spot after they went into the final matchday of the league phase in seventh position, only to drop out following a 2-2 away draw against Barcelona.

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

After VAR stuck with the on-field decision, Nilsson stepped up to score from the penalty spot to condemn Atalanta to their first European away defeat of the season, leaving them with a deficit to overturn if they are to make their third last-16 appearance in the Champions League.

Atalanta experienced another frustrating outing in Saturday's Serie A clash after they saw their title hopes dented by a goalless home draw against Cagliari, ensuring they remained in third place and five points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

They will now turn their focus to Tuesday's crucial European encounter, where they may have their work cut out if they are to win a Champions League knockout tie for the second time in their history, having won just one of their previous six competitive home games.

Club Brugge scraped into the knockout rounds after they finished in 24th place in the league phase thanks to their goal-difference advantage over Dinamo Zagreb in 25th spot.

The Belgian champions won three, drew two and lost three of their eight matches in the league phase, with two of those victories taking place at home against Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon.

They extended their unbeaten European home run to four matches with a narrow victory in last week's first leg against Atalanta to end a 15-game winless run against Italian opposition in UEFA competition.

Club Brugge were unable to pick up another win in Saturday's away league clash with Sint-Truiden, but the result may have felt like a win after they fought back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw thanks to a Hans Vanaken effort and Christos Tzolis' 90th-minute equaliser, extending their unbeaten run to four competitive matches.

They are now set to travel to Italy for the first time since falling to a 3-1 defeat against AC Milan in October, representing their seventh loss in their last 11 European away games against Italian opposition (W1, D4).

Tuesday's visitors know that they simply need to avoid defeat to guarantee themselves a place in the last 16, and they may be able to take confidence from the fact they have progressed from 14 of their last 16 European knockout ties when they have won the first home leg.

Atalanta BC Champions League form:

W

W

L

W

D

L

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):

D

D

L

W

L

D

Club Brugge Champions League form:

W

D

W

D

L

W

Club Brugge form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

W

D

Team News

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

The hosts are sweating on the fitness of their talisman Ademola Lookman, who has not played since January 25 due to a knee problem.

Daniel Maldini and Sead Kolasinac will have to be assessed ahead of the second leg, while Ibrahim Sulemana is a doubt after he was forced off against Cagliari.

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

As for the visitors, they could be without the services of defender Bjorn Meijer, who has missed the last six matches through injury.

After making a couple of changes at the weekend, Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen could decide to recall Raphael Onyedika and Tzolis to the starting lineup.

Onyedika is set to feature in the middle of the park alongside Ardon Jashari, while Tzolis will offer the 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.

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

We say: Atalanta BC 3-1 Club Brugge

Written by

Ben Sully

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