Atlético Madrid powered into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with a commanding 4-1 victory over Club Brugge on Tuesday night, sealing a 7-4 aggregate triumph in their knockout play-off tie.
Alexander Sørloth Hat-Trick Seals Aggregate Victory
Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth delivered a clinical performance, scoring a superb hat-trick to dismantle the Belgian side and underline Atlético’s European credentials.
Atlético created early pressure, with Giuliano Simeone testing Brugge’s defence. A VAR check involving goalkeeper Simon Mignolet produced no penalty, but the breakthrough soon arrived.
Sørloth spun past Brandon Mechele before firing beyond Mignolet to open the scoring.
Brugge responded before half-time when Joel Ordóñez converted from a Mechele flick-on, briefly levelling the aggregate tie.
However, Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak produced key saves to deny Hugo Vetlesen and maintain parity heading into the break.
Johnny Cardoso Strike Shifts Momentum
Early in the second half, Johnny Cardoso restored Atlético’s advantage with a powerful long-range strike.
Despite continued pressure from Brugge, including efforts from Christos Tzolis, Oblak remained solid between the posts.
Substitutes Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann combined to set up Sørloth’s second goal, before the forward completed his hat-trick from a late corner to cap a dominant display.
Atlético’s Impressive European Record Continues
The victory extends Atlético Madrid’s unbeaten run in regulation time across their last 20 Champions League knockout matches, highlighting their consistency on Europe’s biggest stage.
Diego Simeone’s side will now face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the Round of 16 draw scheduled for Friday, as they aim to continue their push for European glory.
