Sorloth's hat-trick leads Atletico to the Round of 16

The UCL League phase had a few surprises, just like last season, when the new format was introduced and there were a couple of teams and a couple of results who were unexpected. But then the playoffs started, that‘s when the quality of the big teams proved crucial. Qarabag lost 6-1 to Newcastle, Olympiacos was defeated at home to Leverkusen, while Dortmund defeated Atalanta. Only Bodo/Glimt got the ‘prize‘ by defeating Inter Milan, and tonight, another great team who had some great results in this addition of the Champions League bowed out with an unfair result: Atletico Madrid – Club Brugge 4-1.

The Belgian team finished in 19th place and managed to overcome two goal deficit in the first leg which was a 3-3 draw. They came without a fear to Madrid and were a better team for most of the match. But defensive errors, inexperienced players and the individual qualities of Atletico players proved crucial and the Spanish team has once again qualified for the Round of 16. Atletico Madrid have progressed in nine of their 10 two-legged European Cup/UEFA Champions League qualifying ties when they did not lose the first leg away from home, and continued the streak tonight. Maybe Brugge pressed better, were more aggressive and had opportunities to score more than one goal, but individual qualities of Madrid‘s keeper Jan Oblak and the striker Alexander Sorloth proved crucial. The first saved some great chances and the latter scored a hat-trick and in the end, the score was too harsh for the visitors.

Club Brugge was clearly a better team in the first half. The guests were aggressive from the start and created chances from both and left flank. Especially dangerous was Forbs, who went to the Atletico‘s penalty area almost at will. Stanković had a good chance in the ninth minute when he put a powerful shot from 20 meters, but the ball went straight at Oblak. Brugge has another good opportunity in the 16th minute, when everything was well organized and the ball came to Hugo Vetlesen, who was all alone but his shot was saved by Hancko. And then all of a sudden, Atletico took the lead. Oblak kicked the ball from his own goal and it came to Sorloth, who took a shot but former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet made a clumsy save and the ball went into the net. Club Brugge equalizes from a set piece in the 37th minute.. A Brugge player flicked the ball on at the near post, and Ordonez get past Cardoso and headed it in for 1-1. Just a minute later it should have been 2-1 for the guests, Atletico keeper Oblak made a panther-like save after a close shot by Vetlesen.

With all these half-chances and two good opportunities, the guests left the field at half-time pretty happy about their performance but they were actually punished in the second half. Brugge defenders left too much space in the penalty area in the 48th minute, allowing Johnny Cardoso to take a clean shot for a 2-1 lead. From that moment it was all over to Brugge. Atletico got the energy they lacked throughout the match and in the 76th minute finished the game with another goal. Llorente played a long ball to Sorloth. the Norwegian gave it to Lookman, who played a one-two with Griezmann, and when it seemed that the Nigerian was going to shoot, he put in a cross for Sorloth who, completely alone, scored for 3-1. The Norwegian striker managed a hat-trick of the night in the 87th minute for hte final score.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

Return leg

Tuesday

Atletico Madrid - Club Brugge 4-1 (1-1)

/Sorloth 23, 76, 87, Cardoso 48 - Ordonez 36/

23.00: (1.25) Inter (7.00) Bodo (12.0)

23.00: (1.83) Leverkusen (3.95) Olympiakos (4.25)

23.00: (1.15) Newcastle (10.5) Qarabag (17.0)

Wednesday

20.45: (2.15) Atalanta (3.50) Dortmund (3.60)

22.00: (1.53) Juventus (4.80) Galatasaray (5.95)

23.00: (1.25) PSG (6.50) Monaco (10.0)

23.00: (1.45) Real Madrid (4.50) Benfica (7.00)

***odds are subject to change***