The Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, prepares to ignite as Atalanta face Club Brugge in a crucial UEFA Champions League group stage encounter today, September 30, 2025, at 16:45 UTC. This fixture carries an intriguing narrative, with Atalanta eager to rebound from a heavy opening-day defeat and Club Brugge looking to extend their surprisingly dominant head-to-head record against their Italian counterparts. With both teams battling early-season injuries and showcasing contrasting forms, the stakes are high as they vie for vital points in Europe’s elite competition. Can Atalanta leverage home advantage and avenge past losses, or will the Belgian visitors continue their impressive continental run?
Head-to-Head History
Historically, Club Brugge holds a surprising psychological edge over Atalanta, despite the limited number of encounters. The two sides have met twice previously in the Champions League, both during last season’s knockout phase playoffs, and on both occasions, Club Brugge emerged victorious.
- Total Matches Played: 2
- Atalanta Wins: 0
- Club Brugge Wins: 2
- Draws: 0
In their previous meetings, Club Brugge defeated Atalanta 2-1 away in the first leg and then secured a 3-1 victory at home in the return leg, eliminating La Dea from the competition. Notably, both of these encounters were high-scoring affairs, with each producing at least three goals and seeing both teams find the net.
Current Form & Team News
Atalanta
Ivan Juric’s Atalanta come into this match looking for consistency. Their last five competitive outings show a mixed bag of results (D-W-L-W-D). They recently secured a 1-1 Serie A draw away at Juventus on September 27, where Kamaldeen Sulemana’s opener was cancelled out by Juan Cabal. Prior to that, they recorded a solid 3-0 victory over Torino in Serie A but suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League opener, leaving them at the bottom of the league phase table. Atalanta’s overall Serie A form has seen them remain unbeaten in their first five league outings, with two wins and three draws.
Team News: Atalanta are grappling with a significant injury crisis, particularly in defense. Key centre-backs Giorgio Scalvini (muscle/shoulder) and Isak Hien (abductor/muscle) are sidelined. They are also without Nicola Zalewski (muscle/thigh), Gianluca Scamacca (knee/hamstring), Sead Kolasinac (cruciate ligament/knee), and Mitchel Bakker (cruciate ligament/knee). Defensive midfielder Ederson is reportedly fit again after a meniscus inflammation. Charles De Ketelaere is facing a setback with a confirmed muscular injury, ruling him out for this match. Forward Ademola Lookman, who had a summer transfer saga, is slowly being reintegrated into the squad after physical discomfort and could feature, having played four minutes as a substitute against Torino. Kamaldeen Sulemana has been in good form, scoring in his last two appearances, including against Juventus. Nikola Krstovic is also a notable attacking threat, having scored two goals recently.
Club Brugge
Club Brugge arrives in Italy in buoyant spirits, with their last five matches showing strong form (W-D-W-W-L). They are fresh off a dramatic 2-1 Belgian Pro League win at Standard Liege on Saturday, sealed by Romeo Vermant’s stoppage-time winner. This followed a sensational 5-5 draw against Westerlo, a game that highlighted both their attacking prowess and defensive frailties. Crucially, Club Brugge began their Champions League campaign with a dominant 4-1 home victory over AS Monaco. Remarkably, they have won all five of their Champions League outings this term, including qualifiers. In their domestic league, they are currently second with five wins, two draws, and two losses.
Team News: Club Brugge also faces significant absences. First-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is sidelined due to a groin injury sustained in their UCL opener. More impactful is the hamstring injury to key defensive midfielder Raphael Onyedika, who is expected to be out for up to six weeks and will be a major miss. Rafael Nwadike is also injured. Nicolo Tresoldi, a summer signing, has already notched twice in the Champions League this season. Christos Tzolis and Hans Vanaken were both instrumental in their UCL opener, with Tzolis being the team’s top scorer and assist provider in recent games, and Vanaken scoring and assisting.
Tactical Preview
Atalanta, under Ivan Juric, is expected to line up in either a 4-4-2 or a 3-4-2-1 formation. Their style often emphasizes midfield control and quick, incisive attacks. However, their significant defensive injury woes, particularly in the backline, could force tactical adjustments and leave them vulnerable. The emergence of Honest Ahanor will be crucial in mitigating these defensive challenges. With an average of 54.1% possession, Atalanta aims to dictate play. Key attacking players like Kamaldeen Sulemana and Nikola Krstovic will be vital for breaking down Brugge’s defense.
Club Brugge, managed by Nicky Hayen, is likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation. Their approach emphasizes continuity, defensive solidity, and leveraging their attacking prowess. The absence of Raphael Onyedika in midfield is a significant blow, as his physicality and defensive contributions are crucial. Aleksandar Stanković is expected to step into his role. Club Brugge averages 61.4% possession, suggesting they also like to control the ball. Attacking threats will come from the likes of Christos Tzolis, Hans Vanaken, Carlos Forbs, and Nicolo Tresoldi.
The midfield battle will be key, with Atalanta’s Marten de Roon and Mario Pasalic facing off against Club Brugge’s Aleksandar Stankovic and Hans Vanaken. Given Atalanta’s defensive injuries and Club Brugge’s recent goal-scoring form, a high-scoring affair seems probable. Both teams have a tendency for goals, and their previous meetings underscore this trend.
Weather conditions in Bergamo for the match are expected to be around 17-20°C with a possibility of patchy rain and breezy conditions. While not extreme, this might add a layer of challenge, though it’s unlikely to significantly alter tactical approaches or player performance.
Betting Angles:
- Atalanta are generally favored to win, with odds around 1.75 to -114.
- “Both Teams To Score” (BTTS) is a highly recommended bet, given the attacking nature of both sides and their head-to-head history, with odds around 4/7.
- “Over 2.5 Goals” also appears to be a strong option.
Goal Scorer Suggestion: Keep an eye on Atalanta’s Kamaldeen Sulemana, who has been in scoring form recently, and Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis or Nicolo Tresoldi, who have been prolific in the Champions League.
