club brugge vs atlético madrid: Hosts fight back in dramatic 3-3 Champions League draw
Club Brugge staged a late rescue to earn a 3-3 draw with Atlético Madrid, producing a roller-coaster first leg that leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return in Madrid. The home side twice came from behind and completed a stirring comeback in front of an electric Jan Breydelstadion crowd, with Christos Tzolis firing in an 89th-minute leveller.
Match report: Late drama after an early Atlético double
Atlético Madrid started the night on the front foot and took control before the break. The visitors opened the scoring from the spot after Julian Álvarez converted a penalty following a mishit defensive clearance that was judged to involve a hand. Atlético doubled their lead before half-time when Ademola Lookman bundled home on his European debut for the club, putting Diego Simeone’s side in a comfortable position at the interval.
Brugge responded after the restart. Raphael Onyedika reduced the deficit shortly after the break with a composed finish that reignited the hosts. That momentum built into a full leveller on the hour when Nicolò Tresoldi got across his marker to steer the ball beyond Jan Oblak, forcing Atlético onto the back foot.
The contest swung again after Alexander Sørloth was introduced from the bench. The Norway international quickly made an impact: a dangerous effort hit the woodwork and sustained pressure led to Joel Ordóñez diverting the ball into his own net to restore Atlético’s lead. But Brugge were not finished.
Christos Tzolis capped an intense second half with a clinical strike in the 89th minute, ensuring the hosts left Belgium with a vital away goal and a 3-3 scoreline to take to the Spanish capital.
What it means going into Madrid
The tie remains delicately poised with everything to play for in the return on Tuesday, February 24 at 3: 00 PM ET. Atlético will welcome Brugge to their home ground knowing they carry a narrow advantage in the sense of away-goal dynamics, but they also conceded three goals at the Jan Breydelstadion and will need to close down space more effectively.
For Brugge, the draw is a statement of resilience. They rode waves of pressure and showed attacking intent after going behind, with Onyedika and Tresoldi standing out for their directness and finishing. The Belgians will head to Madrid full of belief that they can progress if they reproduce the second-half intensity and limit errors in transition.
From Atlético’s perspective, the match highlighted both strengths and vulnerabilities. Moments of clinical finishing and the impact of live-wire substitutes underline their attacking options, but spells of passive defending and a willingness to sit back after taking the lead cost them control. Tactical tweaks from the coaching staff will be under scrutiny ahead of the second leg.
Key moments and tactical takeaways
The penalty that opened the scoring set the tone: small moments decided by tight margins. Atlético’s early control showed their capacity to carve openings, but when they retreated into a defensive shell they invited pressure. Brugge exploited that by pushing midfield runners into advanced positions and testing Atlético’s full-back areas.
Sørloth’s introduction was decisive in shifting momentum back towards Atlético, but the own goal that followed illustrated how sustained pressure can produce fortune for the attacking side. Brugge’s response — especially Tzolis’s late finish — came from persistence and a willingness to take risks in the final third.
Ultimately, the tie promises a gripping return leg. Both coaches must weigh up how aggressively to approach a match where a single goal could swing momentum and the path to the last 16. The winners will next face one of the English clubs already through to that round, so the stakes in Madrid are set to be high.
