Atalanta revived their Champions League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Club Brugge at Gewiss Stadium, powered by a standout performance from Mario Pelic, who won and scored a crucial penalty before heading home the winner in the second half.

The match opened with high intensity as both sides looked to bounce back from contrasting starts to the group stage—Atalanta reeling from a heavy defeat to PSG, while Club Brugge arrived buoyed by a resounding win over Monaco. Early nerves showed, and it was Club Brugge who capitalized first. A defensive lapse from Atalanta allowed Brugge to snatch the lead, pouncing on a miscue to silence the home crowd.

Atalanta, however, showed resilience, driven on by a raucous Gewiss Stadium. The turning point arrived just after the half-hour mark. Pelic, who had not scored in Champions League play since December last year, darted into the box and was brought down under pressure, earning a penalty. He coolly converted from the spot, restoring parity and injecting fresh belief into Gian Piero Gasperini’s men.

The match then hung in the balance, with both sides carving out opportunities. Club Brugge pressed to regain their advantage, but Atalanta’s attacking verve grew as the second half wore on. Winger Kaldin Sulamana’s pace repeatedly threatened the Belgian defense, winning corners and lifting the home support.

The decisive moment came in the 77th minute. After a sequence of corners, Atalanta’s set-piece specialist Smartic delivered a teasing ball into the box. Pelic, already the hero, escaped his marker and guided a powerful header past Brugge keeper Yaka, who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. The stadium erupted as Atalanta seized a deserved lead.

Despite desperate late pressure from Club Brugge, Atalanta held firm, securing a vital three points and exorcising the demons of their Champions League exit at Brugge’s hands last season. The result breathes new life into Atalanta’s European ambitions, placing them back in contention in a fiercely competitive group.

For Club Brugge, the defeat is a setback after their strong opening, but their attacking threat suggests they remain contenders to advance. For Atalanta and their fans, it was a night of redemption and renewed hope, with Mario Pelic the clear protagonist on a memorable European night in Bergamo.