Trailing this UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout phase play-off 2-1, injury-hit Atalanta must do something they haven’t done since 1987/88, namely progress in a European knockout tie after losing the first leg.
But as they’ve won only one of their last four UCL games, it seems their European campaign might be running out of steam and Saturday’s 0-0 Serie A draw with Cagliari also offered little inspiration.
That UCL win did come at home, when they thrashed Sturm Graz 5-0 in the league phase, so there is hope for La Dea, although they’ve never won consecutive games at the Gewiss Stadium in this competition.
And they’ll be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself as their only previous hosting of a Belgian club in Europe saw them lose 2-1 to Mechelen in the 1987/88 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals.
Club Brugge arrive in Italy having lost only one of their last six UCL matches (to former champions Manchester City), a run including a 0-0 draw against Italian side Juventus. Although they’re leading the tie, they may be feeling some pressure as no team in history has been eliminated more often than them (16 times) after winning the first leg of a European knockout tie
