Club Brugge enter their UEFA Champions League play-off clash with Atalanta as the lowest-scoring side to progress from the league phase, netting just seven goals in the competition so far. Despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on matchday eight, Nicky Hayen’s side edged into the top 24 on goal difference and now aim to reach the last 16 for a third consecutive European campaign.
However, their task will not be easy against an Atalanta team in excellent form. Brugge have a poor record against Italian clubs, failing to win any of their last 15 encounters (D6, L9), a run that stretches back to 2003. Their recent results have also been inconsistent, with just one win in their last six matches across all competitions (D3, L2). That solitary victory, a 1-0 success over Leuven, at least gives them something to build on.
Atalanta, meanwhile, arrive in Belgium on the back of a dominant 5-0 win over Verona at the weekend, marking the sixth time this season they have scored five or more goals in a match. That emphatic victory ended a three-game winless run (D2, L1), a sequence that began with a 2-2 draw against Barcelona, which ultimately cost them a top-eight finish in the Champions League.
Despite finishing ninth in the league phase, just one point outside the automatic qualification spots, the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League winners will be confident of securing a last-16 place for the first time since 2020/21. Their away record in this competition is impressive, with just two defeats in their last 13 Champions League matches on the road (W8, D3). They have also scored at least twice in 11 of those games, a statistic that suggests they will pose a significant attacking threat.
Key Players to Watch
Brugge’s Gustaf Nilsson has been a standout performer this season, with nine of his ten goals being either the first or last of the match. For Atalanta, Charles De Ketelaere has been a key figure, registering four goals and five assists, making him one of the most influential players in the Champions League this season.
Stat to Note
Seven of Atalanta’s last eight Champions League away fixtures have featured over 2.5 goals, indicating the potential for another high-scoring encounter.
