Overview
A 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the final round left Atalanta in 9th place and having to play 2 more play-off matches to qualify for the round of 16. However, Atalanta need not worry too much because their opponent is only a much weaker team Club Brugge.
Atalanta's form has been relatively unstable recently, winning 3, drawing 4 and losing 3. However, coach Gasperini's team often plays well against weaker teams and has more ball control.
Evidence of this is the 5-0 win over Chievo, 5-0 over Sturm Graz, 6-1 over Cesena or 6-1 over Young Boys. With 20 goals in the Champions League this season, Atalanta have one of the best attacks in the tournament. Only Barcelona and Dortmund have better attacks.
Therefore, Club Brugge - one of the lowest rated teams among the 24 teams that passed the group stage - promises to face many difficulties when facing Atalanta.
Club Brugge are in a terrible form, winning only one of their last five games. The Belgian side only qualified for the Champions League group stage thanks to a goal difference advantage over Dinamo Zagreb.
Despite having home advantage in the upcoming match, Club Brugge's chances of causing a surprise against Atalanta are slim. Gasperini's team can even destroy their opponents on the away field if they play at their best.
Club Brugge and Atalanta will meet for the first time in the Champions League. Club Brugge held another Serie A representative, Juventus, to a draw in the group stage of this season's Champions League.
Human resources situation
Club Brugge will be full of confidence as they host Atalanta at home with an almost full squad.
On the other side of the front line, the same thing does not happen to the visitors. They are likely to be without up to 7 players, including key striker Ademola Lookman.
Expected lineup:
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper, Onyedika, Jashari, Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras, Jutgla.
Atalanta: Patricio, Scalvini, Hien, Djimsiti, Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Samardzic, Retegui.
The match between Club Brugge and Atalanta takes place at 0:45 am on February 13 (Vietnam time).
