Atletico Madrid booked their place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with an emphatic 4–1 victory over Club Brugge at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, sealing a 7–4 aggregate triumph in an entertaining playoff tie. The night belonged to Alexander Sorloth, whose clinical hat-trick powered Diego Simeone’s side through after what had initially looked like a potentially tense encounter following the 3–3 first leg in Belgium.
With the tie finely balanced from the first leg, Atletico approached the second leg with urgency but also discipline, reflecting Simeone’s pragmatic philosophy. The hosts struck first in the 23rd minute through Sorloth, who capitalized on a long ball from goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The Norwegian forward used his strength to hold off his defender before finishing past Simon Mignolet, giving Atletico the early aggregate advantage and settling nerves inside the stadium.
The goal injected confidence into the Spanish side, who began to dominate transitions and looked dangerous whenever they pushed forward. Julián Álvarez came close with a header soon after, while Antoine Griezmann orchestrated play between the lines, constantly linking midfield with attack.
Despite Atletico’s promising start, Club Brugge showed resilience and reminded the hosts that the tie was far from over. The Belgian side equalized in the 36th minute when defender Joel Ordonez headed home from a corner after Brandon Mechele flicked the ball on inside the box. The goal briefly silenced the Metropolitano and shifted momentum toward the visitors.
Brugge nearly took the lead before halftime, but Oblak produced a crucial save to deny Hugo Vetlesen, ensuring the teams went into the break level at 1–1 on the night. At that stage, tension remained high, with the aggregate scoreline still within reach for both sides.
Atletico emerged from the interval with renewed intensity and regained the lead almost immediately. Just three minutes into the second half, midfielder Johnny Cardoso struck from the edge of the box after a defensive clearance fell kindly into his path. His powerful finish restored Atletico’s advantage and shifted psychological control firmly toward the Spanish club.
The goal allowed Simeone’s men to settle into their preferred rhythm, compact defensively while looking to exploit spaces on the counterattack. Club Brugge continued to push forward, but Atlético’s defensive structure, marshalled by Jose Maria Giménez and David Hancko, proved difficult to break down.
As Brugge pushed numbers forward in search of a comeback, spaces began to open, and Atletico’s attacking quality became decisive. Sorloth struck again in the 76th minute after slick combination play involving Griezmann and Ademola Lookman created the opening. The Norwegian forward finished confidently to put Atletico firmly in control of the tie.
He completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, volleying home from close range following a cross from Matteo Ruggeri after a corner situation. The goal capped a sensational individual performance and confirmed Atletico’s progression with authority.
Sorloth’s three goals took his tally to an impressive run of form in 2026, underlining his growing importance in Simeone’s attacking setup and silencing any doubts about his consistency in big matches.
One of the defining aspects of Atletico’s victory was their tactical adaptability. While Simeone is often associated with defensive solidity, this performance showcased attacking efficiency and vertical play. The use of direct passes from deep, particularly Oblak’s distribution, created problems for Brugge’s defensive line throughout the match.
The midfield pairing also played a key role. Johnny provided energy and shooting threat, while Koke controlled tempo and positioning. Meanwhile, Lookman’s movement and creativity added unpredictability in wide areas, contributing to Atletico’s attacking combinations even without directly scoring.
Defensively, Atletico were not flawless, Brugge created chances and enjoyed slightly more possession, but the Spanish side proved more clinical in decisive moments. Statistics reflected a competitive contest, with both teams registering similar shots on target despite the final scoreline.
The 4–1 win ensured Atletico advanced 7–4 on aggregate, marking their first time scoring seven goals across a Champions League knockout tie in decades. The result also reinforces their reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous tournament teams, capable of combining defensive discipline with attacking explosiveness when required.
For Club Brugge, elimination will be disappointing but their performance across both legs, particularly the thrilling first-leg draw, demonstrated their competitiveness at the highest level. They created problems for Atletico and showed tactical bravery, but ultimately lacked the clinical edge needed to progress.
Atletico Madrid now advance to the Round of 16, where they could face elite European opposition depending on the draw. With Sorloth in red-hot form and attacking partnerships developing effectively, Simeone’s side will believe they can challenge deeper into the competition.
If this performance is any indication, Atletico may once again emerge as one of the tournament’s dark horses, a team few opponents will want to face in the knockout stages.
