Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, got on the scoresheet, but it was Chemsdine Talbi who took center stage on Tuesday night, scoring twice as Club Brugge shocked Atalanta with a 3-1 triumph in Italy.
The result sealed a 5-2 aggregate victory, sending the Belgian side into the Champions League last 16.
Following their 2-1 triumph in last week’s first leg, the Belgian side delivered another clinical display, with Talbi’s brace setting the tone before Ferran Jutgla added a spectacular strike.
Their reward is a showdown against either Lille or Aston Villa in the next round.
Atalanta, despite dominating with 29 attempts on goal, struggled to break down Brugge’s disciplined defense and were repeatedly exposed on the counter.
Ademola Lookman pulled one back early in the second half, but his missed penalty and Rafael Toloi’s late red card compounded a frustrating night for the reigning Europa League champions.
“Over the course of the two matches we created more than they did but they made more of their chances,” admitted Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini. “But you can only give them credit as they’re a lively team and have a lot of quality.”
Atalanta had entered the tie as favourites after finishing ninth in the league phase, narrowly missing direct qualification for the last 16, while Club Brugge had just scraped into the play-offs in 24th place.
Yet, the Belgians defied expectations with a composed and courageous performance.
“We played in a really mature way, with a lot of confidence and courage,” Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen told TNT Sports.
The first leg had ended in controversy after Brugge snatched a late victory via a disputed penalty converted by Gustaf Nilsson.
But any doubts about their credentials were quickly silenced in Bergamo as they struck within three minutes. Jutgla teed up Talbi, who displayed brilliant composure to fire low into the far corner.
The 19-year-old winger, enjoying a breakout season, doubled his tally in the 27th minute, reacting fastest to a parried effort from Christos Tzolis.
Brugge then made it 3-0 just before halftime, with Tzolis turning provider as Jutgla, a former Barcelona player, unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.
Needing four goals in the second half to force extra time, Atalanta responded immediately, with Lookman finishing smartly within a minute of the restart.
A glimmer of hope emerged when they won a penalty after Juan Cuadrado was brought down by Tzolis, but Lookman’s spot-kick was denied by Simon Mignolet.
Frustrations boiled over in the closing stages, culminating in Toloi’s dismissal three minutes from time.
The Atalanta captain attempted to throw the ball at Maxim De Cuyper but lost his footing, colliding with the Brugge player and earning a red card.
With this result, Club Brugge becomes the first Belgian team to win a knockout tie in the Champions League era.
They will learn their next opponent in Friday’s draw, with a potential reunion against Aston Villa, whom they edged 1-0 in the league phase back in November.
