The victory was a much-needed response for Gian Piero Gasperini's side following a heavy loss in their opening fixture, while it handed Club Brugge their first defeat after a dominant start to the league phase.
First Half Fails to Fire
The match was cagey in the opening half-hour, with both sides struggling to carve out clear-cut opportunities.
Second Half Turnaround
Atalanta emerged for the second half with renewed urgency and immediately turned up the pressure on the Brugge defence. The decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when Croatian midfielder Mario Pašalić was brought down inside the box by Brugge goalkeeper Nordin Jackers after a scramble for the ball.
Substitute Lazar Samardžić stepped up to take the resulting penalty, coolly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to level the score at 1-1 in the 74th minute.
The equalizer invigorated the home side, who pushed relentlessly for a winner. Brugge briefly threatened to retake the lead, but their resolve was finally broken in the 87th minute by the man who won the penalty.
From a well-worked corner routine, the ball was glanced on to Mario Pašalić, who was perfectly positioned at the back post to nod the ball into the net from close range, completing the turnaround and securing the crucial 2-1 win.
The result marks an important step for Atalanta in their Champions League quest, providing a significant boost of momentum heading into the next round of fixtures. Pašalić, who was named Player of the Match, proved to be the pivotal figure, playing a direct role in both the equalizer and the winning goal.