Club Brugge will aim to gain the upper hand when they take on Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League playoffs first leg on Wednesday evening.
A place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 is at stake as Club Brugge and Atalanta BC go head-to-head in the first leg of their knockout round playoff at Jan Breydel Stadion on Wednesday night.
While Brugge narrowly clinched qualification by securing the final playoff spot (24th place) in the inaugural 36-team league phase, Atalanta came agonisingly close to direct progression, finishing just one place short of the top eight. Both sides now face a two-legged battle, with the winner set to meet either LOSC Lille or Aston Villa in the next round.
Despite falling to Manchester City (3-1) on the final matchday, Club Brugge fought through a tough group phase to extend their European journey. They finished 24th in the standings, earning their place in the playoffs after impressive wins over Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon.
Their loss to Manchester City ended an incredible 20-match unbeaten run, which included 15 victories. But the Belgian outfit still enter this clash with confidence. Head coach Nicky Hayen led Brugge to their 19th domestic league title in 2023/24, and they are currently the closest challengers to Genk in the Belgian Pro League.
Brugge returned to winning ways on Saturday, beating ten-man OH Leuven 1-0, with Gustaf Nilsson netting his fifth goal in as many league games. Their attacking consistency has been remarkable, as they have failed to score in just one of their last 30 matches — against Juventus last month.
However, history is not on Brugge’s side. They have failed to win in their last 15 matches against Serie A opponents, with their most recent success coming 22 years ago against AC Milan. Now facing an in-form Atalanta, Brugge will need to break that curse if they hope to take a first-leg advantage.
Atalanta were just moments away from securing a top-eight finish in the UEFA Champions League league phase, but a dramatic 2-2 draw with Barcelona on the final matchday saw them drop to ninth place, forcing them into this playoff round.
Despite their disappointment, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have been one of the most exciting teams in Europe. La Dea have already defeated Shakhtar Donetsk, VfB Stuttgart, and BSC Young Boys in this competition and even held Arsenal and Barcelona to draws.
Atalanta’s defensive record in Europe has also been impressive — they conceded just six goals in the league phase, the fourth-best defensive record, with only Arsenal allowing fewer shots on target.
Although their form in 2025 has dipped, with just three wins in their last 11 matches across all competitions, their attack remains lethal. Gasperini’s charges netted a club-record 126 goals in 2024, and their latest victory — a 5-1 thrashing of Hellas Verona — saw Mateo Retegui score four goals, cementing himself as the Capocannoniere leader.
Atalanta are all but out of the Serie A title race, but this competition provides an opportunity to salvage their season. A strong result in Bruges would put them in pole position to advance. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Club Brugge
Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen has the luxury of a fully fit squad, a stark contrast to Atalanta, who are dealing with multiple injuries. This allows Brugge to field their strongest lineup as they aim to take advantage of the first leg at home.
While Nordin Jackers has been the preferred goalkeeper for Brugge’s Belgian Cup campaign, Simon Mignolet will return between the posts for this crucial UEFA Champions League playoff. The vastly experienced shot-stopper will be crucial in organising Brugge’s backline and dealing with Atalanta’s attacking threats.
Defensively, Brugge will feature Joël Ordonez, the 20-year-old Ecuadorian talent, who has impressed in recent weeks. He will be partnered at the heart of the defence by Brandon Mechele, with Joaquin Seys at right-back and Maxim De Cuyper occupying the left-back role. This back four will need to be disciplined to contain Atalanta’s dynamic forward line.
In midfield, the double pivot will consist of Ardon Jashari and Raphael Onyedika, who will be tasked with breaking up play and providing a link between defence and attack. Their ability to win second balls and maintain possession will be crucial against Atalanta’s pressing system.
Further forward, Chemsdine Talbi, Hans Vanaken, and Christos Tzolis will operate as the attacking midfield trio, supporting the lone striker. Vanaken’s experience and ability to dictate play will be essential in unlocking Atalanta’s defence, while Tzolis’s pace and dribbling can create openings in wide areas.
Leading the line for Club Brugge will be Ferran Jutgla, who will look to stretch Atalanta’s backline with his movement and finishing ability. His link-up play with Vanaken and Tzolis will be key to Brugge’s attacking success.
This 4-2-3-1 formation provides a strong defensive base while allowing Brugge to transition quickly into attack, a strategy that could be vital against Atalanta’s possession-based game. With a fully fit squad and home advantage, Brugge will aim to take control of the tie before heading to Italy for the return leg.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Seys, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper; Jashari, Onyedika; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
Atalanta BC
Atalanta will be without several key players heading into this crucial first-leg clash. Odilon Kossounou, who previously made 55 appearances for Club Brugge, is among the absentees, along with Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, both of whom are ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Additionally, Sead Kolasinac, first-choice goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, and UEFA Europa League final hero Ademola Lookman are unavailable, significantly limiting Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad options.
Despite these setbacks, Atalanta will be able to count on Charles De Ketelaere, who will undoubtedly be a key figure in this fixture. Having joined Club Brugge at the age of seven, the Belgian international rose through their ranks, scoring 26 goals at the senior level before making his move to AC Milan in 2022. This season, he has already been directly involved in nine Champions League goals, surpassing the contributions of Mateo Retegui, Atalanta’s main striker.
On a positive note, new signings Daniel Maldini and Stefan Posch have been registered for the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds and are available for selection, offering additional depth.
Atalanta are expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Rui Patrício starting in goal in place of the injured Marco Carnesecchi. In defence, Stefan Posch, Isak Hien, and Berat Djimsiti will form the three-man backline, aiming to provide solidity against Brugge’s attacking threats.
The midfield will consist of Raoul Bellanova at right wing-back and Matteo Ruggeri on the left flank, both offering width and attacking support. In central midfield, Ederson and Marten de Roon will anchor the side, providing defensive cover and initiating forward plays.
Further up the pitch, Charles De Ketelaere and Mario Pasalic will operate as the two attacking midfielders, with De Ketelaere looking to make a statement against his former club. Leading the attack will be Mateo Retegui, who is in outstanding goalscoring form and remains a key weapon for Atalanta in the final third.
This setup allows Atalanta to maintain defensive stability while utilizing the creativity of De Ketelaere and Retegui’s goalscoring instincts to break down Club Brugge’s backline. Despite their injury woes, Atalanta have enough firepower to pose a significant challenge in Bruges.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Posch, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Pasalic; Retegui
Key Stats
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This will be the first time that Club Brugge and Atalanta will face each other in a European competition. The Belgian outfit have a poor record against Italian teams, going winless in their last 15 meetings in major European tournaments (six draws, nine losses) since their last victory in October 2003 — a 1-0 away win against AC Milan in the Champions League.
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Club Brugge have not won at home against an Italian side since April 1978 when they defeated Juventus 2-0 in the UEFA Cup. Since then, they have failed to win in their last nine home matches against Italian teams (D4 L5), although they have avoided defeat in their last three meetings at home (all draws), including a 0-0 draw against Juventus earlier this season.
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Atalanta’s only previous European meetings with a Belgian side came in the 1987/88 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals. On that occasion, they were eliminated by KV Mechelen, losing both home and away (1-2 in both matches, 2-4 on aggregate).
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This is only the third time that Club Brugge have reached the Champions League knockout stage. Their previous two appearances were in the Last 16 during the 2022/23 season, where they were heavily defeated by Benfica (0-2 at home and 1-5 away, losing 1-7 on aggregate).
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Atalanta are looking to reach the UEFA Champions League Last 16 for the third time in four tournament appearances (previously 2019/20 and 2020/21). They were the highest-ranked team (9th place) among those entering the playoffs and have been difficult to beat, losing just one of their eight matches in this competition so far (W4 D3).
Player to Watch
Charles De Ketelaere
De Ketelaere will undoubtedly be the centre of attention in this UEFA Champions League playoff clash as he faces his boyhood club, Club Brugge, for the first time since leaving in 2022. Having joined Brugge at just seven years old, De Ketelaere rose through the ranks to become one of their most talented academy graduates, scoring 26 goals at the senior level before securing a move to AC Milan. Now at Atalanta, he has rediscovered his best form and is thriving under Gian Piero Gasperini.
This season, De Ketelaere has been directly involved in nine goals in the Champions League, outshining even Atalanta’s top striker Mateo Retegui. His ability to play as an attacking midfielder or a false nine makes him a dynamic and unpredictable threat in the final third. Combining technical skill, vision, and goal-scoring ability, he will be crucial in breaking down Club Brugge’s defence.
Emotionally, this game carries extra weight for De Ketelaere, as he returns to the stadium where he once dazzled fans and rose in prominence. He will be eager to prove himself, not just to his former club, but to the wider footballing world, showing that he has taken his game to another level.
With Brugge’s defensive vulnerabilities against top opposition, expect De Ketelaere to be heavily involved in Atalanta’s attacking build-up, pulling the strings and potentially delivering the decisive moments that could tip the tie in Atalanta’s favour.
Prediction
Club Brugge 1-2 Atalanta BC
Club Brugge’s resilience and home advantage will make them a tough opponent, but Atalanta’s superior squad depth, defensive solidity, and attacking firepower should see them take control of this tie.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side has proven they can win on the road in Europe, and if Mateo Retegui continues his red-hot form, Brugge’s defence will struggle to contain him. Expect Brugge to fight hard, but Atalanta should have too much quality over the course of 90 minutes. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Gasperini and his charges.
