Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Atalanta v Club Brugge - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - February 18, 2025 Atalanta's Marten de Roon in action with Club Brugge's Hans Vanaken REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
BERGAMO, Italy (Reuters) - Teenager Chemsdine Talbi scored an early double as Club Brugge stormed into a three-goal lead before holding off a second-half onslaught for a 3-1 away win over Atalanta in their Champions League knockout phase playoff second-leg tie on Tuesday.
Ferran Jutgla netted the visitors’ other goal as Brugge stunned the Italian side with a 3-0 halftime lead, but they had to fight a desperate rearguard action in the second half as their hosts looked to conjure up an unlikely comeback.
Ademola Lookman pulled one goal back for Atalanta but then had a penalty saved by veteran goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who made several other important stops to stymie home hopes and see the Belgian side advance to the last 16 5-2 on aggregate.
Atalanta’s elimination added to a calamitous night for Italian football, following AC Milan’s exit earlier when they were held to a 1-1 draw by visitors Feyenoord of the Netherlands and went out of the Champions League 2-1 on aggregate.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Clare Fallon)
