Spain’s Atlético Madrid will host Belgian side Club Brugge on Tuesday evening in a decisive second-leg clash of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.
The encounter will take place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, kicking off at 7:45 p.m. local time, following a dramatic 3-3 draw in the first leg that left qualification finely balanced.
The first meeting in Belgium delivered high drama and kept fans on edge until the final whistle.
Argentine forward Julián Álvarez handed Atletico an early advantage from the penalty spot in the eighth minute, before Ademola Lookman doubled the lead deep into first-half stoppage time.
However, Club Brugge mounted an impressive comeback after the break. Goals from Raphael Onyedika, Tzolis, and Christos Tzolis turned the match on its head, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the Spanish side.
Atletico were handed a lifeline in the 79th minute when Joel Ordóñez inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, restoring parity and ensuring everything remains to play for in Madrid.
Atletico advanced to this stage after finishing 14th in the league phase standings, while Club Brugge secured their spot by ending the round in 19th place, underlining both teams’ resilience in reaching this crucial juncture of Europe’s premier club competition.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone expressed satisfaction with his side’s mentality following their recent 4-2 La Liga victory over Espanyol.
The Argentine coach praised his players’ fighting spirit, particularly their ability to overturn deficits and assert control over matches.
Simeone noted that Atletico have shown strong form in both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, despite trailing the pace in the domestic title race.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency during the decisive stretch of the season.
The victory over Espanyol, he added, provides a timely morale boost ahead of Tuesday’s pivotal European contest, as Atletico seek to capitalize on home advantage and secure their passage into the last 16.
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