Atalanta returns to Europe and does so in the midst of an injury emergency. Tonight, at 6:45 p.m., the Nerazzurri take on Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadionnthe first leg of the Champions League playoffs, with the return set for six days from now at the Gewiss Stadium. Up for grabs is a place in the round of 16, a goal blurred in the League Phase, which ended in ninth place.
Emergenza infortuni, Gasperini con poche scelte
Bergamo’s infirmary is crowded: Scamacca, Scalvini, Kossounou, Lookman and Kolasinac are not recoverable, while Ruggeri (flu) and Maldini (muscle problem) are also added to the list. The only good news is the return of Carnesecchi, who will go on the bench. Gasperini’s choices are therefore almost obligatory: in defense, Posch and Toloi are competing for a place, while on the three-quarter, Pasalic should start, behind Retegui and De Ketelaere.
De Ketelaere himself will experience a special evening: having grown up and established himself in Brugge, he returns as a former to the club that featured him for 14 years, with 120 appearances and 25 goals.
Brugge, un avversario da non sottovalutare
Club Brugge reached the playoffs thanks to better goal difference than Dinamo Zagreb, after a positive streak of 20 consecutive useful results. It is second in the league, -6 behind Genk, and reached the Belgian Cup final. However, it has suffered two defeats in recent weeks against Manchester City and Antwerp.
Tifosi in difficoltà per lo sciopero in Belgio
In addition to the challenges on the field, Atalanta will have to deal with logistical problems. A general strike is planned for Thursday, February 13, in Belgium, which will block transportation and air traffic. All flights from Belgian airports have been canceled, putting many of the 781 Nerazzurri fans in the guest sector in a difficult situation. Those traveling by charter immediately after the match will have no problems, but hundreds of fans will have to find alternative solutions to return.
L’arbitro della sfida
Directing the match will be Turkey’s Halil Umut Meler, already known to Atalanta for refereeing the 0-3 loss at Anfield against Liverpool in last season’s Europa League quarterfinals. His name also became famous for an assault he suffered in 2023, when he was punched by the president of Antalyaspor.
The article Atalanta, in Brugge with many absences to continue European journey comes from CalcioAtalanta.
