Atalanta mounted a late rally to beat Club Brugge 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League, snapping a two-match losing run against the Belgian side and collecting their first points of the campaign.
Bottom of the league phase after a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday one, La Dea began cautiously against a Brugge team buoyed by a 4-1 win over Monaco. Chances were scarce before the break, with just one effort on target, but it was a beauty. Christos Tzolis drifted in from the edge of the box and curled a right-footed strike beyond Marco Carnesecchi to give the visitors the lead.
Atalanta, prolific in Serie A this season, struggled to create clear openings as the Nerazzurri defended with discipline. Brugge then threatened again after the interval when Ademola Lookman, driving to the byline, saw his attempted cross flash towards goal, forcing Nordin Jackers into an alert save. The hosts needed a break and got one when a VAR review judged Jackers to have brought down Mario Pašalić inside the area. Substitute Lazar Samardžić converted the penalty with calm authority to level the match.
Brugge almost responded immediately. Romeo Vermant rounded Carnesecchi but, from a tight angle, dragged his finish just wide of the right post. That miss proved pivotal. With three minutes of normal time remaining, a delivery into the box was glanced on by Yunus Musah and fell perfectly for Pašalić, who stooped to nod in from close range and ignite jubilant celebrations.
Atalanta have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight Champions League outings, but this time their late punch carried the night. The comeback not only lifts morale in Bergamo, it also gets their European campaign up and running.
