Atlético de Madrid 4 – 1 Club Brugge | UCL Round of 16 Bound!
Alexander Sørloth was the hero at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano last night, netting a clinical hat-trick to propel Atlético de Madrid into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. After a high-scoring 3-3 draw in the first leg, Simeone’s men finished the job with an emphatic 4-1 victory (7-4 on aggregate).
Match Highlights
The night belonged to the Norwegian “Viking.” While the first half was a tense affair, the second half saw Atleti break away with a display of lethal finishing.
The Opener: Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring early, but Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez managed to equalize, keeping the Belgian side’s hopes alive momentarily.
The Turning Point: Shortly after the restart, Johnny Cardoso hammered home a brilliant strike from the edge of the box—his first-ever UCL goal—to restore the lead.
The Hat-Trick: Sørloth then took over, scoring two late goals (including a close-range finish in the 86th minute) to secure the match ball and the qualification.
Tactical Masterclass
Diego Simeone’s second-half substitutions proved decisive. The introduction of Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman added a layer of creativity that the Brugge defense simply couldn’t handle. Defensively, Jan Oblak remained a wall, dealing with a late VAR scare and maintaining composure under pressure.
What’s Next for Atleti?
With this victory, Atlético joins Europe’s elite in the knockout stages.
The Draw: Atleti will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool in the Round of 16. The official draw takes place this Friday.
League Focus: The team now shifts its attention back to La Liga, where they face Real Oviedo this Saturday, February 28.
”A game that will be remembered for Atlético’s attacking display and sheer dominance.” — Match Report
