Club Brugge Edges Atalanta with Controversial Stoppage-Time Penalty

BRUGES, Belgium, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Club Brugge secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against Atalanta in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout playoff on Wednesday, thanks to a controversial penalty decision late in the match. The incident, which occurred during stoppage time, has drawn widespread attention and debate within the football community.

Substitute Gustaf Nilsson converted the decisive penalty, awarded after Atalanta defender Isak Hien was penalized for a foul on his Swedish teammate, Nilsson, while they contested a loose ball. This ruling incited protests from multiple Atalanta players, with referee Halil Umut Meler issuing yellow cards to Hien and two others for their dissent.

Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed his discontent regarding the officiating. “We are now going in a direction outside of what football should be,” he told Sky Italia. He added that the current rules are becoming unrecognizable and that the game is losing its essence due to such decisions.

The match kicked off with Brugge taking an early lead when Ferran Jutgla found the net in the 15th minute. He received a well-timed pass from the right flank, which he neatly dispatched into the goal. Despite starting strong, Brugge faced pressure as Atalanta gradually dominated possession.

Just before halftime, Mario Pašalić leveled the score for Atalanta with a powerful header, connected from a precise cross. With this goal, Pašalić continued his remarkable form, marking his third consecutive game with a goal in the Champions League.

Both teams exchanged scoring opportunities throughout the second half, maintaining a thrilling pace. Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was forced into action multiple times, notably saving a powerful header from Zappacosta. Moving into the final moments of the match, pressure built up around Atalanta’s goal.

The decisive moment arrived when Hien’s hand appeared to touch Nilsson’s face, resulting in the penalty call that overshadowed Brugge’s earlier efforts. Nilsson’s conversion sent Atalanta’s goalkeeper Rui Patricio the wrong way, solidifying Brugge’s lead right before the final whistle.

Gasperini’s remarks about the penalty sparked discussions on possible changes to officiating standards, as he urged football stakeholders to re-evaluate the implementations of current rules. Brugge, having finished 24th in the new league phase, managed to secure an unexpected advantage against Atalanta, the top finisher in the same phase at ninth.

As the teams prepare for their return leg on Tuesday, Gasperini acknowledged the challenge ahead. “It will now be a feat; we have to win 2-0 against a good team,” he said. Players and fans alike will await their next encounter with eager anticipation.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.