Atalanta suffered a setback in their Champions League campaign, losing 2-1 to Club Brugge in the first leg of their playoff tie.
The Italian side will now have to overturn the deficit in the return leg in Bergamo next week to keep their Champions League dream alive.
A late penalty, converted by Gustaf Nilsson, secured a dramatic victory for the home side in an entertaining clash. Brugge made a strong start and were rewarded early on, with Ferran Jutglà firing them ahead in the 15th minute.
Just five minutes before half-time, Atalanta responded, with Mario Pašalić leveling the score with a brilliant header—his third goal in as many Champions League games.
However, just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, Brugge struck again in stoppage time. Nilsson stepped up to convert a 94th-minute penalty, sealing a crucial 2-1 win for the Belgian side.
Despite Atalanta’s dominant second-half display, the late penalty proved costly. The absence of key players, including Lookman and Daniel Maldini due to injury, limited coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s attacking options. With both Lookman and Maldini ruled out, La Dea relied on Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui in attack, but the combination failed to deliver this time.
Brugge have pulled off a stunning result against the odds, taking a narrow lead into the second leg. Atalanta will still be favorites at home, but the Belgian side have given themselves a real chance of progressing.
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