Atlético Madrid Vs Club Brugge — Sorloth hat-trick sends Atleti through to last 16
In the second leg of the UCL knockout play-offs, the match billed as atlético madrid vs club brugge ended with Alexander Sorloth’s first Champions League hat-trick as Atlético Madrid won 4-1 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate, a result that sends Diego Simeone’s side into the last 16 where they will meet either Tottenham or Liverpool.
Early chances, a penalty appeal and the opening goal
The game kicked off at 18: 46 CET at the Metropolitano Stadium and the first big talking point came in the opening quarter-hour when a penalty appeal was turned down after a clumsy challenge from Simon Mignolet on Giuliano Simeone (19: 02 CET). Atlético took the lead in the 23rd minute when Sorloth opened the scoring — the Norway striker collected a long ball from Jan Oblak and his half‑volley squirmed past Simon Mignolet (19: 10 CET), a strike that moved Diego Simeone's men 4-3 ahead on aggregate at that stage.
Club Brugge respond through Ordonez
Club Brugge levelled 13 minutes after Sorloth’s opener when Joel Ordonez nodded home from a corner to make the tie 4-4 on aggregate (19: 23 CET). Ordonez had earlier been involved in the first leg, having scored an own goal in the home first leg when the two sides drew 3-3 — that earlier own goal is part of the sequence that left this second leg finely balanced at halftime (19: 36 CET).
Second half shift and Cardoso’s decisive finish
The second half began at 19: 49 CET and United States international Johnny Cardoso produced a low, thrashed strike three minutes after the restart to put Atlético back ahead on aggregate (19: 53 CET). The move was described as a finish from the edge of the box that gave the hosts a 5-4 aggregate lead, swinging the tie back in Atleti’s favour.
Atlético Madrid Vs Club Brugge — Sorloth completes hat-trick
Sorloth completed his hat-trick late in the game with two further goals in the final 14 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano (20: 16–20: 31 CET). The Norwegian’s second of the night came from a counter‑attack finish (20: 16 CET) and his third came from a header off a corner (20: 31 CET), the third strike described as a headed finish that sealed the 4-1 scoreline on the night and a 7-4 aggregate victory confirmed at full time (20: 38 CET).
Key saves and turning points in Madrid
Jan Oblak produced a crucial save to deny Hugo Vetlesen with a header in the box at 19: 25 CET, preventing Club Brugge from taking the lead at a sensitive moment. The sequence of events — an early penalty appeal turned down, Oblak’s save, Cardoso’s 19: 53 CET strike and Sorloth’s late double — combined to decide the tie inside 90 minutes.
What this result means and what’s next
With the 4-1 win at the Metropolitano Stadium and a 7-4 aggregate, Atlético Madrid progress to the Round of 16. Sorloth has scored five goals in this season's Champions League and his hat-trick in Madrid was his first in the competition. They will face either Tottenham or Liverpool in the next round; by the end of the same match night the makeup of the Round of 16 was set to be confirmed (full-time 20: 38 CET). A Club Atlético de Madrid page displayed the text "Just a moment... " in the provided context; unclear in the provided context.
Atlético’s result also ends a recent run against Club Brugge in which the Spanish side hadn’t won any of their last four meetings (three draws and one defeat); the only opponent with a longer winless sequence against Atlético in European competition is Real Madrid, a run of six between 1959 and 2017. The confirmed next fixture for Atlético in the competition is a last-16 tie with either Tottenham or Liverpool.
