Club Brugge sweep Atalanta aside to reach last 16

Club Brugge scored three first-half goals as they beat Serie A side Atalanta to progress in the second leg of their Champions League knockout play-off at Gewiss Stadium.

Chemsdine Talbi scored Club Brugge’s quickest goal in the competition after just two minutes, slotting into the bottom corner.

Christos Tzolis’ shot was parried into the path of Talbi who finished from close range for his second goal.

In an incredible sequence of play, Davide Zappacosta and Juan Cuadrado hit the post in quick succession, before Ferran Jutgla produced a fine finish into the bottom corner to round off a scintillating Club Brugge counter-attack just before the break.

Ademola Lookman came on as a half-time substitute and found the net just 34 seconds later, slotting in a low strike to give Atalanta faint hope.

Cuadrado was fouled in the area with a penalty given after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check, but former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet dived low to his left and saved Lookman’s spot-kick.

Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for shoving Maxim de Cuyper over when the Belgian defender prevented him taking a quick throw-in.

Club Brugge won the first leg against Atalanta 2-1, but their last away win against an Italian club in European competition was in October 2003 (1-0 v Milan in the Champions League).

Mignolet was in inspired form, saving shots from Mateo Retegui and Lookman.

The last-16 draw, which takes place on Friday, will decide whether the Belgian club face Aston Villa or Lille next month.

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