JAKARTA - Atletico Madrid did not encounter any significant obstacles when they advanced to the 16th round of the Champions League. Appearing at home when playing the second playoff match at the Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Wednesday, February 25, 2026 early morning WIB, Atletico beat Club Brugge 4-1 through Alexander Sorloth's hat-trick. They also won 7-4 in the aggregate so they qualified for the knockout round.
Atletico had to work hard when playing the first playoff at home to Brugge. Even in that match, Atletico was 2-0 ahead, but Brugge was able to equalize. Likewise when they managed to add a goal and the score changed to 3-2, again Brugge could catch up and force a draw 3-3.
In the second match when Atletico acted as the host, Brugge is predicted to continue to fight. However, this hope did not come true. Brugge even became the month of Diego Simeone's team who only needed a Sorloth to finish off his opponent.
Sorloth showed his sharpness by scoring a hattrick which made Atletico win 4-1. The result made Los Rojiblancos win 7-4 on aggregate and qualify for the last 16.
"We did well when we attacked. My teammates also gave me good passes that made me score," Soloth said as quoted by france24.
"I'm in the best shape of the season and finishing every chance in front of the goal. It's a great feeling for a striker," he said.
Atletico actually had trouble when starting the match. Brugge, who was able to force a draw in the first match, was confident. The hosts were finally able to overcome the deadlock when the match entered the 20th minute.
It started with a long-range kick from goalkeeper Jan Oblak, which was immediately accepted by Sorloth. Even though he was guarded, the Norwegian national team striker was still able to launch a hard shot that defeated goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
The goal created in the 23rd minute made Atletico 1-0 ahead. They also returned to pressure and striker Julian Alvarez who became Sorloth's tandem almost increased the lead. It's just that Alvarez's header is still wide.
Brugge tried to refuse to surrender and fight back. The team under Ivan Leko was able to create opportunities and finally broke Oblak's goal in the 36th minute. The goal was produced by Joel Ordonez to change the score to 1-1. This goal started from a corner kick which was greeted by Brandon Mechele. The ball then headed to the goal which was continued by Ordonez's header.
After the goal, the match began to run fierce. Brugge was able to match Atletico's offensive performance. Even the visiting team almost turned ahead before halftime. However, Hugo Vetlesen's header was brilliantly thwarted by Oblak. No goals were scored and the draw remained until halftime.
Entering the second half, Atletico took the initiative to attack. The host's efforts immediately bore fruit through midfielder Johnny Cardoso when the match was only three minutes. Cardoso's hard shot from outside the penalty area penetrated the Brugge defense and broke Mignolet's goal.
The 2-1 advantage made Atletico unable to breathe easily because Brugge tried to get out of the pressure. Even Brugge's offensive game made Atletico's defense, which was led by Marco Llorente, have to work hard.
However, Atletico finally managed to increase the lead when Sorloth managed to score his second goal in the 76th minute. This started with a slick collaboration between new player Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann.
They fed each other and then Lookman passed the ball to Sorloth who immediately scored a goal to change the score to 3-1.
Not stopping there, Sorloth cemented Atletico's lead by scoring a hat-trick after welcoming a cross from defender Matteo Ruggeri in the 87th minute.
He escaped the escort of the Brugge player and ran to continue Ruggeri's long pass. This is Sorloth's 15th goal in various competitions this season which makes him the club's top scorer.
The score changed 4-1 for Atletico. There were no additional goals and Atletico also qualified for the 16th round to meet Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.
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