UCL: Club Brugge snatch late 3-3 draw against Atletico
Club Brugge scored a dramatic late equaliser as they twice came from behind to earn a pulsating 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid, leaving their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie
Club Brugge scored a dramatic late equaliser as they twice came from behind to earn a pulsating 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid, leaving their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Spain.
Atletico looked to have taken firm control of the contest after racing into a two-goal lead before the break. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Brugge full-back Joaquin Seys was punished for handling following a mistimed defensive clearance. The visitors doubled their advantage just before half-time when Ademola Lookman bundled in on his European debut for Diego Simeone’s side, against a Club Brugge team he faced earlier in the season while at Atalanta.
However, the hosts produced a spirited second-half response to drag themselves back into the tie. Nigeria international Raphael Onyedika stabbed home shortly after the restart to ignite the comeback, and Brugge were level on the hour when the impressive Nicolo Tresoldi got across his marker to steer a composed finish past Jan Oblak.
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Brugge’s revival appeared set to complete a remarkable turnaround, especially after Onyedika had already threatened twice in the opening half, with Atletico guilty of sitting deep after going ahead. Simeone looked visibly frustrated on the touchline, but the introduction of Alexander Sorloth helped shift momentum back towards the visitors.
The Norway striker struck the woodwork within minutes of coming on for Antoine Griezmann and continued to trouble the Brugge defence, eventually forcing Joel Ordonez into an own goal that restored Atletico’s lead and threatened to undo the home side’s hard work.
But Club Brugge refused to fold. With the match heading towards a narrow Atletico win, Greek forward Christos Tzolis delivered the final twist, firing in an 89th-minute equaliser to keep the tie alive.
The return leg will take place in Madrid on Tuesday, 24 February, with the winners set to face either Liverpool or Tottenham in the last 16.
