club brugge vs atlético madrid: Tzolis strike earns hosts dramatic 3-3 draw
Club Brugge produced a spirited comeback to salvage a 3-3 draw with Atlético Madrid in a roller-coaster Champions League playoff first leg, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return in Madrid next week. The hosts rallied from 2-0 down, surrendered an own goal that threatened to undo their work, but grabbed an 89th-minute equaliser to keep their hopes alive.
Drama in Bruges: goals, swings and a late leveller
Atlético made the perfect start when Julian Álvarez converted a penalty after a handling offence in the Brugge box. Ademola Lookman then doubled the visitors' advantage on his European debut for the club shortly before half-time, giving the Spanish side a comfortable-looking 2-0 lead at the interval.
Brugge responded early in the second half when Raphael Onyedika slotted home to cut the deficit and galvanise the home crowd. Nicolo Tresoldi then produced a composed finish on the hour mark to level the game, capitalising on a well-timed run and finish that beat Jan Oblak.
Momentum swung again when Atlético brought on Alexander Sørloth. The Norwegian struck the woodwork soon after his introduction and then forced pressure on a Brugge defender that led to Joel Ordóñez turning the ball into his own net, restoring a 3-2 lead for the visitors.
Brugge, however, were not done. Christos Tzolis produced a composed, clinical finish in the 89th minute to knot the game at 3-3 and ensure the Jan Breydelstadion erupted as the hosts celebrated a hard-fought point.
Key moments and tactical shifts
The evening was defined by momentum swings and tactical adjustments. Atlético looked incisive early, taking advantage of a defensive error that led to the penalty and Lookman’s follow-up strike. After the break, Brugge raised their intensity; Onyedika’s industrious play provided the spark that dragged the hosts back into the contest.
Atlético’s tendency to sit deeper after taking the lead proved costly, allowing Brugge to dominate large spells of the second half. The introduction of Sørloth changed the dynamic, offering a physical focal point up front and creating the sequence that produced the own goal. Still, Brugge’s resilience and late pressure, combined with Tzolis’s composure in the box, ultimately earned them a share of the spoils.
What the result means for the tie
The draw ensures the playoff remains wide open ahead of the second leg in Madrid on Tuesday, February 24 at 3: 00 PM ET. Atlético will head home with an away goal, but they must guard against Brugge’s home form and ability to punish defensive lapses. For Brugge, securing a point at home gives them belief they can test the Spaniards on their ground and push for progression into the last 16.
Small margins will matter across 90 minutes in the return. Discipline and finishing are likely to be decisive: key players on both sides carried meaningful threat on the night and will be targeted by the opposition. The tie could yet hinge on set pieces, substitutions and the side that imposes its tempo in Madrid.
After a game of six goals, late drama and shifting momentum, both clubs head into the second leg with everything to play for and European hopes very much alive.
