club brugge dominate but trail after Alvarez penalty; Oblak keeps Atlético ahead
Club Brugge rode the bulk of possession and created repeated openings at Jan Breydel but head into the interval trailing 0-1 after a clinical Julian Alvarez penalty. The hosts pushed for an early equalizer but met a compact Atlético block and a couple of timely saves from goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Kickoff was Wednesday at 9: 00 PM ET in the Champions League play-off first leg.
First half: early setback and sustained pressure
The contest turned on a moment inside the opening exchanges: a handball in the box by a Brugge defender handed Atlético a penalty, and Alvarez made no mistake, planting his spot-kick into the corner with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet committed the other way. That early setback forced Club to chase the game, but they responded by taking control of territory and tempo.
Brugge fashioned several promising sequences. Tzolis combined well down the left to set up Sabbe but the final delivery lacked a target and was smothered. Diakhon offered attacking thrusts from the flank, powering into the right channel and delivering a curling effort that flashed narrowly wide of Oblak's goal. Onyedika had a gilt-edged chance at the top of the box but his first-time finish was cushioned, comfortably gathered by the Atlético keeper.
There were also heated moments in the penalty area when Brugge appealed for a second spot kick from a corner; referee Nyberg waved the claim away and the VAR remained silent. Throughout, Atlético relied on compact defending and sporadic counter attempts but offered little in the way of sustained pressure after the early goal.
Oblak, resilience and what Brugge must do next
Oblak's presence kept Atlético in the lead. He was alert to several half-chances and blocked onrushing attempts that threatened to level the tie. For Brugge, the narrative is familiar: territorial supremacy without a decisive end product. The hosts repeatedly probed the channels and sought combinations through Diakhon, Tzolis and Onyedika, but final passes and shots lacked either the precision or power required to breach Atlético's low block.
Tactically, Brugge's high pressure forced Atletico into hurried clearances at times, but the visitors have enough experience to absorb that pressure and look for openings on the break. Atlético’s counter transitions have so far been blunt; Simeone’s side have not stretched Brugge in the way their early goal suggested they might. Still, the 0-1 deficit is a tangible advantage to take back to Madrid for the return leg.
Managerial decisions will matter in the second half. Brugge have attacking pieces on the pitch and options on the bench — a duo who remained unused in the first 45 — and will need to sharpen finishes and deliver crisper balls into the box. Maintaining patience while increasing the tempo in the final third will be key if they are to overturn the deficit.
The second half promises more intensity. Club Brugge have shown they can dominate possession; converting that dominance into goals will be their primary task. Atlético, meanwhile, will seek to defend their lead while exploiting any gaps left by Brugge’s forward commitment.
Live updates from the return at Jan Breydel will determine whether this becomes a memorable comeback night in the Champions League play-offs or a narrow victory that Atlético can protect away from home.
