Alexander Sorloth delivered a Champions League masterclass as Atletico Madrid powered past Club Brugge with a 4 1 win at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, sealing a 7 4 aggregate victory and a place in the last 16.
After a thrilling 3 3 draw in the first leg in Belgium, the tie was finely balanced heading into Madrid. Club Brugge started with courage and intensity, pressing high and creating early openings that briefly unsettled the Spanish side. Hugo Vetlesen saw two promising efforts blocked as the visitors tried to take control.
But Atletico Madrid showed why they remain one of Europe’s toughest knockout teams. In the 23rd minute, Sorloth opened the scoring in clinical fashion. After collecting a long clearance from Jan Oblak, the Norwegian striker held off his marker, took a couple of steady touches and fired a low left footed shot that slipped under goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
Brugge responded well and found a deserved equaliser in the 36th minute. From a corner delivered by Christos Tzolis, Brandon Mechele flicked the ball on at the near post, allowing Joel Ordonez to nod home from close range. The Belgian side continued to threaten, and Oblak produced a superb one handed save to deny Vetlesen just before the break.
The second half, however, belonged to Atletico. Diego Simeone’s side emerged with renewed authority and retook the lead just two minutes after the restart. Johnny Cardoso capitalised on a loose clearance, controlling the ball on his chest before striking firmly from the edge of the box to make it 2 1 on the night.
As Brugge pushed forward in search of another equaliser, spaces began to open. Atletico exploited them ruthlessly. In the 76th minute, quick interplay between substitutes Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann carved open the defence, leaving Sorloth with a simple left foot finish from close range.
The Norwegian forward was not done. In the 87th minute, he completed his hat trick by arriving at the back post to convert Matteo Ruggeri’s cross with another composed side footed effort. The goal capped a dominant second half display and sent the home crowd into full celebration mode.
Atletico Madrid now advance to the Champions League round of 16, where they will face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in what promises to be another heavyweight clash. With Sorloth in red hot form and the team showing their trademark resilience mixed with attacking sharpness, Atletico have once again positioned themselves as serious contenders in Europe.
