Champions League Playoff Kick-off
The stage is set for an intense UEFA Champions League knockout playoff as Club Brugge clashes with Atalanta. This thrilling encounter takes place on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the famed Jan Breydelstadion in Belgium, promising a high-stakes battle with kick-off at 12:45 PM ET. Fans worldwide can catch the action live on Paramount+.
Heading into this face-off, Atalanta rides on a wave of confidence after a resounding 5-0 win against Hellas Verona in their recent Serie A fixture. Standout performances, particularly from striker Mateo Retegui, have made Atalanta one to watch. Meanwhile, Club Brugge is riding the momentum gained by narrowly securing their playoff position over Dinamo Zagreb.
Team News and Tactical Lineups
Club Brugge boasts a fully fit squad, a crucial advantage in such a pivotal match. Simon Mignolet is set to guard the posts with predicted support from Seys, Mechele, Ordonez, and De Cuyper at the back. Key midfield players like Jashari and Onyedika aim to control the game, while the attacking trio Talbi, Vanaken, and Tzolis provide offensive firepower with Jutgla leading the frontline.
Facing them, Atalanta is dealing with the absence of Daniel Maldini due to injury. Despite this setback, their lineup remains strong. Rui Patricio will likely take the goalkeeping position, with defensive support from Posch, Hien, and Djimsiti. Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, and Ruggeri are expected to handle midfield duties while De Ketelaere and Pasalic will fuel the attack, with Retegui spearheading efforts to score.
One of the key plotlines is Charles De Ketelaere's return to his former stomping ground at Club Brugge, adding a personal edge to the match. Keeping an eye on Hans Vanaken’s performance will also be crucial for the Belgian side’s hopes.
Atalanta has proven their mettle away from home, already securing impressive results in the league phase with wins at Shakhtar and Young Boys. In contrast, Club Brugge's journey has been less smooth, struggling against giants like Manchester City.
With the odds favoring Atalanta at +105 for this leg and after Club Brugge's narrow 2-1 first-leg upset, the return leg in Bergamo becomes even more tantalizing. A contentious penalty, converted by Gustaf Nilsson, has set a heated atmosphere for what’s shaping up to be a thrilling resolution in Italy.
Comments
Steve Williams
February 14, 2025 AT 20:10 PMAtalanta gonna crush em. Brugge got no chance. Simple.
Andy Persaud
February 16, 2025 AT 05:47 AMThis is why I hate football. Too much drama. Someone get me a snack.
ANGEL ROBINSON
February 17, 2025 AT 10:40 AMWhat people are missing is that this isn't just about tactics or goals. It's about legacy. De Ketelaere returning to Brugge? That's a story. Not just a player coming back - it's a man facing the place that shaped him, knowing his old team sees him as a traitor now. Football gives us these human moments. The stats don't capture it. The pressure on Vanaken? He's carrying a whole city's hope on his shoulders. And Retegui? He's not just scoring - he's rewriting his own narrative. This match isn't about who wins. It's about who survives the weight of expectation.
Deborah Canavan
February 18, 2025 AT 20:53 PMI've been watching European football since the early 2000s and I have to say, the way these smaller clubs like Brugge keep punching above their weight is kind of beautiful, even if they're not supposed to win. I mean, they got past Dinamo Zagreb on away goals? That’s not luck, that’s grit. And Atalanta? They’re a machine, sure, but they’ve got this weird charm - like a team that plays like they’re always late for tea but somehow still win. I think the penalty in the first leg was sketchy, but I also think the ref was just trying to keep the game from turning into a brawl. Honestly, I’m just here for the atmosphere. I wish I could be in the Jan Breydelstadion right now. The noise must be insane.
Thomas Rosser
February 20, 2025 AT 14:39 PMYou think this is real? 😏 The whole playoff system is rigged. Atalanta got a soft draw because they pay off UEFA. Brugge was meant to lose to Zagreb. The penalty? Fixed. The ref? On the payroll. Look at the timing - right after the CEO of Atalanta had dinner with the UEFA president. Coincidence? I think not. 🤫
Joshua Johnston
February 22, 2025 AT 09:35 AMBrugge’s defense looks like a group of guys who just remembered they have to play today. Atalanta’s attack? They’re not playing football - they’re performing surgery. I’m not saying Brugge is doomed, but I’m also not betting my rent on them.
Kerry Keane
February 22, 2025 AT 13:44 PMRetegui is fire 🔥 and Vanaken is clutch but honestly who cares if they win as long as the game is fun. I just wanna see someone get a red card and then the crowd sings some weird chant
Elliott martin
February 23, 2025 AT 19:51 PMI keep wondering if De Ketelaere feels weird standing on that pitch knowing he used to wear their jersey. Like does he look up at the stands and see someone holding a sign he used to make? Does he still know the old chants? I just hope he plays clean. No theatrics. Just football
Shelby Hale
February 25, 2025 AT 01:01 AMOh here we go. Another 'underdog' story. Brugge? Please. They got lucky once. Atalanta? They’re the real deal. And yet the internet still treats them like villains because they’re Italian and they score too much. 😭 The real tragedy? No one cares that Retegui’s mom is crying in the stands because she’s never seen him play live. But hey - let’s all cry over a penalty call. #FakeDrama
Jeffrey Frey
February 26, 2025 AT 14:38 PMAtalanta’s gonna win 4-1 and the ref is gonna ignore 3 handballs. Brugge’s fans are gonna cry into their fries. And someone’s gonna post a TikTok of De Ketelaere smiling after the goal and say 'he’s a traitor' like he didn’t just carry them to UCL last year. 🤡 Meanwhile, I’m here waiting for the moment someone gets stabbed with a flagpole. It’s inevitable.
Jeremy Ramsey
February 28, 2025 AT 05:12 AMI mean, I’m from New Orleans - we know a thing or two about underdogs. Brugge’s got heart. Atalanta’s got talent. But this? This is the kind of game that makes you forget your job, your bills, your ex. You just sit there with your beer and pray your team doesn’t choke. I don’t care who wins. I just want someone to score a goal that makes the whole stadium go silent for three seconds. That’s the magic.
Henry Huynh
March 1, 2025 AT 21:48 PMBrugge better win or I’m deleting my account and becoming a gardener