Atletico Madrid emphatically overturned Club Brugge KV’s spirited first-leg showing with a 4-1 victory in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off, sealing a 7-4 aggregate triumph at the Metropolitano.
The night belonged to Alexander Sorloth, whose clinical hat-trick punished Brugge’s defensive frailties and underlined Atletico’s formidable European pedigree on home soil.
Atletico Madrid fashioned the first clear opportunity when Giuliano Simeone darted onto a dangerous cross, prompting a VAR check for a potential foul by the onrushing Simon Mignolet. The visitors survived that scare, but their reprieve was short-lived.
Midway through the first half, Sorloth showcased his strength and technique with superb hold-up play before spinning Brandon Mechele far too easily. His well-struck effort should have been routine for Mignolet, yet the ball somehow squirmed past the former Liverpool stopper to hand Atletico Madrid the lead.
Given Atleti’s record of 13 clean sheets in their last 17 European home knockout matches, Brugge’s task looked daunting. But the Belgian side refused to wilt.
Mechele quickly atoned for his earlier error, flicking on a corner into the path of Joel Ordonez, who reacted sharply to square the tie on aggregate for the third time across the two legs.
Momentum nearly swung decisively in Brugge’s favour soon after. Christos Tzolis delivered a teasing cross that seemed destined for Hugo Vetlesen, but Jan Oblak produced an excellent save to preserve parity heading into the break.
The hosts wasted little time reasserting control after half-time. Johnny Cardoso netted his first-ever Champions League goal in spectacular fashion, unleashing a thunderous strike from the edge of the box that left Mignolet with no chance.
Tzolis continued to probe and tested Oblak with a swerving long-range effort, while a brief VAR review following a challenge in the box offered Brugge faint hope. But Atletico’s defensive resilience held firm.
Any lingering nerves were extinguished when Sorloth grabbed his second of the night, capitalising after Brugge failed to clear a slick combination between substitutes Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann.
The Norwegian completed his hat-trick late on, left unmarked from a corner to head home and cap a devastating individual display that put the tie beyond doubt.
Nine of Brugge’s last 10 matches have now produced at least three goals , a trend they would have preferred not to continue amid Sorloth’s onslaught. For Atletico, the victory extends their unbeaten run in regulation time in Champions League knockout matches to 20 games (W13, D7), further cementing their reputation as one of Europe’s toughest home assignments.
Diego Simeone’s men now await Friday’s draw, where they will face either Liverpool F.C. or Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the Round of 16, with first-leg ties scheduled for March.
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