A last-minute penalty by substitute Gustaf Nilsson earned Club Brugge a 2-1 home win against Atalanta in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff on Wednesday.
Club Brugge’s Ferran Jutgla’s opened the scores at the 15th minute mark from a clinical strike gifting the hosts a lead in the match. Brugge winger Chemsdine Talbi took the ball on the right flank and ran into the box before squaring it to Jutgla for a neat finish.
Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic cancelled out the goal with a header just before halftime, netting from a lovely cross by Davide Zappacosta.
Atalanta substitute Lazar Samardzic had an excellent chance to put his side in front after the hour mark but his low shot narrowly missed the far post, seconds after Brugge keeper Simon Mignolet superbly denied Zappacosta’s header.
The lively encounter continued to deliver chances for both teams and Charles De Ketelaere, who was facing his old club, tested Mignolet with a late strike from outside the box but the goalkeeper leapt high to deny Atalanta’s Bruges-born forward.
The hosts found the winner in stoppage time although in a controversial decision. Nilsson chased after a ball into the box and tumbled to the ground after Atalanta defender Hien’s hand appeared to brush against his face, with the VAR not reversing the referee’s call.
The Brugge forward then dusted himself down and made no mistake to send keeper Rui Patricio the wrong way from the spot.
Atalanta will host Brugge in the reverse fixture on Tuesday, with the winner of the tie facing Lille or Aston Villa in competition’s last 16.
