Champions League: Atalanta overturns Bruges, first win for Juric
First three points in the Champions League for Ivan Juric’s Atalanta: Dea overcame the Belgian side Bruges 2-1 in a comeback in the second match valid for the championship phase of the continent’s top competition. Goals in the second half by Samardzic and Pasalic reversed the visiting team’s first-half goal by Tzolis. Lookman plays as a starter for the first time this season but fails to shine.
First half with no real chances until the Belgian goal: at 38′ Tzolis receives from Tresoldi and with a right-footed shot beats Carnesecchi. First 45′ unproductive for Dea, which never manages to adequately serve Ademola Lookman and hit the goal mirror. At halftime Juric inserted Zappacosta for a slumped Bellanova. The Bergamasks raised their center of gravity and showed up more frequently in Jackers’ sides, but without creating any real danger against a very cautious Bruges.
Out of Lookman for Sulemana and Ederson for Samardzic, the hosts managed to find the equalizer at 73′ just with the former Udinese: a blunder of the Belgian defense allowed Musah to present himself in front of the opponent goalkeeper, who rejected the shot of the former Milan player but then came out running over Pasalic causing the penalty in favor of Atalanta. From the penalty spot Samardzic displaces Jackers and balances the result.
The match exploded in the final, with the two stretched teams conceding several chances. Bruges at 76′ almost took advantage of a Musah mistake, but Vermant wasted by kicking out to a now beaten Carnesecchi. A few minutes later it was instead Sulemana who in acceleration created a danger for the guests’ goal.
Atalanta’s winning goal came in the last minutes: on the development of a corner won by newcomer Sulemana, Juric’s team found the 2-1 thanks to Pasalic’s framing that sent the whole Gewiss Stadium into delirium. Dea’s Champions League begins now.
