Atlético Madrid - Club Brujas: Sorloth hat-trick sends Atleti into Champions League Round of 16

Atlético Madrid defeated Club Brujas 4-1 to progress to the Champions League Round of 16, taking the playoff tie 7-4 on aggregate. Atlético Madrid - Club Brujas produced a decisive night in which Alexander Sørloth scored a hat-trick, Johnny Cardoso opened his account as a rojiblanco, and pivotal goalkeeping moments kept the tie under control.

Atlético Madrid - Club Brujas: scoreline, aggregate and context

The playoff ended 4-1 in this match and 7-4 on aggregate. The first leg had finished 3-3, a game in which Atlético had lost a two-goal lead, so progression required a controlled response. This victory puts Atlético into the Round of 16, with a potential next opponent noted as Tottenham or Liverpool.

Sorloth’s decisive night and the sequence of goals

Sørloth opened the scoring early, with a goal that involved the collaboration of Club Brujas goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Club Brujas reacted before the break: Joel Ordóñez converted from a corner to level the match at 1-1. In the second half, Johnny Cardoso (48’) collected a rebound outside the area and fired a shot that threaded between several legs and ended in the net, giving Atlético a 2-1 lead and marking Cardoso’s first goal as a rojiblanco.

Later, Sørloth added a second after a collective move that involved Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman, and he completed his hat-trick in the final minutes with a precise finish inside the box. The four Atlético goals in this match were therefore: Sørloth (three) and Cardoso (one).

Key saves and near-misses that shaped the tie

Club Brujas might have gone into halftime ahead were it not for an impressive stop by Atlético keeper Jan Oblak, who prevented the ball from crossing the line with a strong hand save. That intervention preserved parity at half and proved decisive in changing the tie’s momentum after Cardoso’s early second-half strike.

Reactions and player narratives after Atlético Madrid - Club Brujas

Johnny Cardoso described a difficult start to his Atlético spell, saying he had suffered injuries that were out of his control, and expressed satisfaction at contributing with his first goal. Commentators highlighted Cardoso’s participation, grit and work rate. Observers also praised Sørloth: he was described as a striker in a rich vein of form who focuses on scoring rather than theatrics, and one assessment called his performance colossal—extending beyond goals to duels, pressing and decision-making with the ball.

Coach Diego Simeone addressed questions about Antoine Griezmann’s future, noting he told Griezmann what he thinks and expressing the hope that Griezmann chooses what he wants because he deserves to make his own decision.

Implications and what comes next

The result secures Atlético’s place in the Champions League Round of 16 and underlines the immediate impact of Sørloth’s scoring run alongside a re-emerging Johnny Cardoso. The tie’s progression clears the path to a matchup against either Tottenham or Liverpool. Observers flagged the night as a complete success for Simeone’s side and particularly for the Norwegian striker, who for the moment is eclipsing Julián Álvarez in attention due to his scoring display.

Match summary and closing observations

• Final score in the playoff match: Atlético 4, Brujas 1.
• Aggregate score: Atlético 7, Brujas 4.
• First leg: 3-3, in which Atlético lost a two-goal lead.
• Goal sequence highlights: Sørloth opened the scoring (goal involved goalkeeper Simon Mignolet), Joel Ordóñez equalized from a corner, Johnny Cardoso (48’) scored his first goal as a rojiblanco, Sørloth added another after play involving Griezmann and Lookman, and completed a late hat-trick with a precise finish inside the box.
• Decisive interventions: Jan Oblak’s hand save prevented a Brujas goal at the break.
• Next phase: Round of 16 awaits, with Tottenham or Liverpool as possible opponents.

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