UCL: Atalanta Stages Thrilling Comeback to Beat Club Brugge 2-1
Club Brugge took the lead through Christos Tzolis, but Atalanta fought back with goals from Lazar Samardzic and Pasalic to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Atalanta, who were recovering from a...
Atalanta secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League, earning their first three points of the campaign. The match saw Atalanta come from behind to win, with Christos Tzolis scoring for Club Brugge in the 38th minute. However, the Italian side fought back with Lazar Samardzic converting a penalty in the 74th minute and Mario Pasalic heading in the winner in the 87th minute.
With plenty of talented attacking players on both sides, those in attendance would have expected an entertaining first half, yet this didn’t transpire as only one shot on target was recorded in the opening 45 minutes.
This solitary effort, however, was enough to see the Belgian outfit hit the front, and in fine fashion too.
Having received the ball just outside the area, Christos Tzolis created room for a right-footed effort which curled beautifully into the right side of the net past the despairing Marco Carnesecchi.
Atalanta's recent UEFA Champions League performances have seen them keep only one clean sheet in their last eight outings. However, La Dea are currently joint-second highest scorers in Serie A this season. Despite their attacking prowess, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against Inter Milan, with the Nerazzurri holding firm. It was actually Club Brugge who created the first significant opportunity of the second half when Ademola Lookman attempted to deliver a cross near the byline, but the ball headed goalwards, forcing Nordin Jackers to make a crucial save.
Pašalić wins it late for Atalanta ⌛#UCL pic.twitter.com/LbQp8S6MqE
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 30, 2025
Atalanta's defensive performance has been inconsistent in the Champions League, but they've shown strength in Serie A, keeping 15 clean sheets in 37 matches, with 4 of those coming at home and 11 away. Their goalkeeper, Marco Carnesecchi, has made notable contributions, including 13 clean sheets in Serie A this season.
Atalanta received a crucial lifeline when the VAR intervened, awarding them a penalty after Nordin Jackers was deemed to have fouled Mario Pasalic in the box. Lazar Samardzic, who had come on as a substitute, stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, leveling the score and setting the stage for a thrilling finish. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum back in Atalanta's favor, giving them a chance to mount a comeback.
Who else? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/7TzY2sdQfi
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) September 30, 2025
Having suffered this setback, the visitors almost retook the lead shortly after when Romeo Vermant took the ball around Carnesecchi inside the area, but his effort from a tight angle went just wide of the right post.
This would ultimately prove to be a costly miss, as with three minutes of normal time remaining, a ball into the area was glanced on by Yunus Musah and into the path of Pasalic, who nodded home from point-blank range to spark wild scenes of celebration as La Dea opened their account in this season’s UCL in dramatic style.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Atalanta, who were recovering from a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their opening game. Club Brugge, on the other hand, had started the campaign with a 4-1 win over AS Monaco. The win showcases Atalanta's ability to bounce back and perform under pressure against strong opposition like Club Brugge.
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