Atalanta were left fuming and bewildered after a controversial stoppage-time penalty handed Club Brugge a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League play-off clash.
La Dea narrowly missed automatic qualification for the Round of 16 by just one point and arrived for this fixture missing several key players.
Matteo Ruggeri, Ademola Lookman, Daniel Maldini, Sead Kolasinac, Odilon Kossounou, Giorgio Scalvini, and Gianluca Scamacca were all unavailable, while Marco Carnesecchi was still battling flu symptoms.
Club Brugge, meanwhile, had impressed in the group stage, defeating Aston Villa and Sporting, holding Juventus to a goalless draw, and only succumbing to Milan after being reduced to 10 men.
The hosts came out with real aggression and pace, particularly on the counter-attack. Christos Tzolis caused problems early on, notably sending Berat Djimsiti sprawling before his shot was blocked by Raoul Bellanova.
Club Brugge took a well-earned lead when Stefan Posch was caught napping on an Isak Hien pass. Chemsdine Talbi intercepted and set up Ferran Jutglà, who controlled the ball before firing home with his right foot.
Atalanta struggled to establish their rhythm initially, but as Brugge’s pressing intensity dropped, the visitors started to dictate the game. Mateo Retegui came close with a shot that went wide, and Davide Zappacosta later delivered a pinpoint cross for Mario Pasalic, who scored with a looping header into the top corner from 12 yards out.
After the break, Brugge came out swinging and nearly restored their lead. Talbi’s pull-back caused confusion as two Brugge players collided on the penalty spot. The ball eventually fell to Maxim De Cuyper, who drilled a shot just wide.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s double substitution almost had an immediate impact. Juan Cuadrado’s cross found Zappacosta at the back post, forcing a desperate save from Simon Mignolet. Moments later, Lazar Samardzic was sent through on goal but shot wide in a one-on-one situation with Mignolet.
Charles De Ketelaere, a product of the Club Brugge academy, drew applause from the home crowd when his powerful shot stung Mignolet’s gloves after a slick exchange with Samardzic. Cuadrado also tested the goalkeeper following a short corner.
Then came the game’s defining moment in stoppage time—a highly contentious refereeing decision that left Atalanta outraged. Umut Teler awarded a penalty after ruling that Isak Hien had grazed Gustaf Nilsson’s nose with his arm while cutting him off to intercept a through ball. The contact was minimal, leaving Hien visibly confused and Gasperini furious. Despite VAR reviewing the incident, the on-field decision stood due to the slight contact. Nilsson stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sealing the win for Brugge.
Atalanta’s frustration was palpable at the final whistle, with visible tension between players and officials as they protested the decision.
