Club Brugge have battled their way into the Champions League play-offs, but their journey hasn’t been smooth. With just seven goals in the league phase the lowest among qualifiers Nicky Hayen’s men edged into the top 24 on goal difference. Now, they stand on the brink of a third straight European knockout stage appearance, but a formidable Atalanta side stands in their way.
History isn’t in Brugge’s favor. The Belgian giants are winless in their last 15 encounters with Italian opposition, a streak stretching back over two decades. Recent form offers little reassurance, with just one victory in their last six matches. However, that hard-fought 1-0 win over Leuven could provide a timely boost as they prepare for their biggest test yet.
Atalanta, meanwhile, arrive in Belgium with momentum on their side. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men thrashed Verona 5-0 at the weekend, showcasing their attacking firepower. The Serie A outfit may have fallen just short of an automatic Champions League last 16 spot, finishing ninth in the league phase, but their away form in Europe is formidable losing just twice in their last 13 UCL trips while scoring at least twice in 11 of them.
Brugge’s Gustaf Nilsson, whose goals have often been decisive this season, will be key to their hopes, while Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere, already involved in nine goals this UCL campaign, will look to haunt his former club.
