On the second match day of the League Phase of the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge headed to Bergamo to take on Atalanta. In the first half, the Brugge side took the lead after a fine goal by Tzolis and 1-0 was also the score at halftime. In the second half, Atalanta came alongside from the penalty spot through Samardžić and in the closing stages of the match Pašalić scored with his headto give the Italians the victory.
Blauw-Zwart scored an important 1-2 victory against Standard last Saturday in extremis and could therefore travel to Bergamo with a mental boost. Coach Nicky Hayen had little reason to make many changes to his starting line-up and that did not happen. There was only one change in defense, as Sabbe rejoined the team at the expense of Meijer. Seys moved to the position of left back. Sandra kept his place in midfield and Tresoldi was chosen as deep striker.
As expected, it was the home team that immediately claimed the ball and looked for the Jackers goal. This immediately resulted in two attempts in the first five minutes. First, Kossounou went for his chance, but his attempt posed no problem for Jackers. A few minutes later it was Bernasconi's turn on a dropped ball, but his kick from just outside the sixteen fortunately went wide of the post. Afterwards Club did regain the balance and just before the quarter hour mark, this resulted in a first opportunity for the Bruges players. Tzolis came in from the right flank and then from just outside the sixteen went for his chance with his left, but unfortunately he could not keep the leather low enough. Five minutes later, Atalanta did set up through Éderson who was able to advance centrally. His shot ended up going several meters wide, so no danger for Jackers.
After half an hour, the Italians again put their stamp on the game a bit more, forcing Club to crawl into their hedgehog position. This produced a hot stand in front of the Jackers goal, but the Blauw-Zwart goalie did not have to come into action. Meanwhile, the visitors were angling for a chance to strike on a quick counterattack and almost succeeded. Tzolis was served up and then tried to reach Tresoldi with a crafty ball. The latter could not reach the ball sufficiently to be dangerous. Shortly thereafter, however, Club scored! Forbs intercepted the ball and played it off to Tzolis. The Greek winger cut well to his right to then curl deliciously past Carnesecchi from just outside the sixteen. Thus we finally went to rest with a Bridge lead....
The second half started with one change on the Atalanta side, as Bellanova remained in the locker room and was replaced by Zappacosta. Unlike the first game, the first danger was now for Club. Tzolis was given some space again and you don't have to say that twice to the Greek. From distance, he again went for his chance and Carnesecchi had a hard time keeping the leather out of his cage. Atalanta responded moments later through Lookman but his place ball to the far post was fortunately deflected and went wide. In the corner kick that followed, a header could be headed but not framed. The home side continued to press now, but even Zappacosta could not get his corner kick inside the goal frame. They did succeed just before the hour via a deflected cross from Lookman, but Jackers reacted very alertly, preventing the equalizer. It was clear that Baluw-Zwart had to go backwards, but Atalanta did not get further than a Samardžić kick over goal.
Just after halfway through the second half, Club suffered a setback. Sandra misplayed the ball to the back of the net, but initially Jackers reacted excellently by tapping the ball out of Musah's feet. Immediately afterwards, Club's goalie wanted to do this again to Pašalić and now unfortunately he came just too late and the ref immediately pointed to the spot. Samardžić put himself behind the ball and sent Jackers the wrong way to balance the signs. The visitors, however, reacted in no way disappointed, as almost immediately after the equalizer there was ei so after another Bruges lead. Vermant kept up good pressure and intercepted the ball in front of Carnesecchi. In the end, the angle proved just a little too sharp to get the leather between the posts. Now the game was going up and down well, as Atalanta also looked for that winning goal. Sulemana lashed in from long range, but luckily his shot went wide of Jackers' cage. In the end, Club still got the lid on the nose just before the end of regular playing time. A cross from Samardžić was slightly deflected, allowing Pašalić to head the Italian's lead into the nets from close range.
An extra five minutes were counted and Nicky Hayen tried to give everything he had with a triple substitution. Unfortunately this was to no avail, as Atalanta played out the match in a mature way. Blauw-Zwart thus loses its second match in the League Phase and starts with 3 out of 6.
UEFA Champions League - Playday 2
Spectators: 23,439 - New Balance Arena
Referee: Espen Eskås (Noo)
Atalanta Bergamo: Marco Carnesecchi - Odilon Kossounou (53' Yunus Musah), Berat Djimsiti, Honest Ahanor - Raoul Bellanova (46' Davide Zappacosta), Marten de Roon, Mario Pašalić, Éderson (61' Lazar Samardžić), Lorenzo Bernasconi - Nikola Krstović (89' Marco Brescianini), Ademola Lookman (61' Kamaldeen Sulemana).
Bank: Francesco Rossi, Marco Sportiello, Yunus Musah, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Lazar Samardžić, Relja Obrić, Marco Brescianini, Daniel Maldini, Davide Zappacosta.
Coach: Ivan Juric.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (89' Bjorn Meijer), Joel Ordóñez (89' Zaid Romero), Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Cisse Sandra (89' Shandre Campbell), Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs (74' Hugo Vetlesen), Nicolò Tresoldi (63' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Ludovit Reis, Hugo Vetlesen, Bjorn Meijer, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson, Vince Osuji, Hugo Siquet, Lynnt Audoor, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Musah, de Roon
Red cards: none
Goals: 38' Tzolis (0-1), 74' Samardžić (1-1), 87' Pašalić (2-1)