club brujas - atlético madrid: 3-3 thriller leaves tie finely poised ahead of Madrid return
Club Brujas battled back from two goals down to snatch a 3-3 draw with Atlético de Madrid in a roller-coaster first-leg playoff tie. Atlético led 2-0 at halftime through Julián Álvarez and Ademola Lookman and even went 3-2 before a late equaliser ensured the tie heads back to Madrid level. The return is set for Tuesday at 6: 45 PM ET.
How the game unfolded: momentum swings and late drama
Atlético looked in control early, taking a 2-0 lead into the break. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring and Lookman added a second before the interval; a Club Brujas own goal from Joel Ordóñez briefly made it 0-3 after the restart. But the hosts mounted a ferocious response. Waves of pressure down Atlético’s right flank created problems for Nahuel Molina and Giuliano, and Brujas pulled a goal back to make it 1-2.
The second half exploded into life. Atlético conceded multiple goals in a frantic opening quarter of the half — a pattern that has been costly for them during this Champions League campaign — and Brujas levelled, with the final equaliser coming from Tzolis to make it 3-3. Atlético did manage a period when they regained the lead at 2-3, but defensive lapses and sustained local pressure turned the night into a draw that leaves everything to play for at the Metropolitano.
Key player milestones and tactical takeaways
Several notable personal landmarks came in an eventful night. Jan Oblak made his 50th away appearance in the Champions League for Atlético, joining an elite group at the club; Antoine Griezmann reached his 100th match in European competition with Atlético and provided one of the side’s assists, his second in this Champions League edition. Those individual achievements added flavour to a match defined more by collective swings than single moments.
Tactically, Atlético were exposed on their right. Attempts to plug the channel midgame failed to completely halt Brujas’ momentum, with the hosts delivering repeated overlapping runs and crosses that put sustained pressure on Atlético’s full-backs. Midfield battles were fierce; Atlético still managed build-up through Griezmann and Baena, but defensive organisation suffered when possession was lost high up the pitch. Lookman has continued his knack for scoring in midweek European fixtures, while Brujas’ intensity and willingness to press in waves proved decisive.
From a statistics point of view, Atlético have now scored in eight of their nine Champions League matches this season and are on a run of six consecutive games finding the net in the competition — their best streak since a ten-game run between October 23, 2024 and September 30, 2025. Conversely, Atlético have conceded an unusually high number of goals in the early minutes of the second half across this campaign, a vulnerability that Brujas exploited on the night.
What comes next: a tense trip to Madrid
The draw hands Atlético the second leg at home, where they must settle the tie. The two clubs will reconvene on Tuesday at 6: 45 PM ET, with both sides carrying momentum and clear tactical homework. Atlético must shore up their right flank and tighten transitions out of possession, while Brujas will look to replicate the intensity that produced the comeback and test Atlético’s defensive concentration over 90 minutes.
Ultimately, the tie is wide open. Atlético will take some positives — attacking returns from their frontline and landmark appearances for senior players — but will also leave Madrid acutely aware that a promising first-half performance was not enough. Brujas, buoyed by a dramatic second-half showing, will travel with belief that a decisive result in the capital is within reach.
