In a match packed with drama, twists, and breathtaking moments, Club Brugge and Atlético Madrid played out a pulsating 3‑3 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play‑off tie at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium. The result leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg in Madrid next week.
The night began with Atlético Madrid flying out of the blocks. Just eight minutes in, referee decisions set the tone when a handball in the Brugge box led to a penalty, which Julián Álvarez coolly converted to give the Spanish visitors the lead. Before halftime, Ademola Lookman doubled Atlético’s advantage, reacting quickest inside the box to score just before the break , a composed finish that marked a memorable Champions League milestone for the Nigerian winger.
But Brugge refused to lie down. Early in the second half, Raphael Onyedika sparked the comeback, pouncing on a rebound to halve the deficit and ignite the home crowd. Moments later, Nicolo Tresoldi capitalised on sustained pressure to level the score at 2‑2, turning in a low cross with precision.
Just when it looked like Atlético might regain control, a tactical moment swung the game again. Under mounting pressure, Brugge defender Joel Ordoñez turned a cross into his own net in the 79th minute, reinstating the visitors’ lead , until the drama peaked in the dying moments. With defeat looming, Onyedika provided the crucial assist for Christos Tzolis, whose well‑timed finish earned Brugge a sensational late equaliser in the 89th minute to seal a 3‑3 draw.
The clash was a showcase of attacking intent, individual brilliance, and defensive frailties on both sides. Lookman’s goal highlighted his growing influence in Atlético’s attack, while Onyedika’s performance was central to Brugge’s spirited resurgence. The match lived up to its billing as a six‑goal thriller, and with everything still to play for, excitement is building ahead of the return leg in Madrid.
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