Club Brugge secured a 3-3 draw against Atlético de Madrid in the knockout round of the Champions League after a spectacular game. Blauw-Zwart unhappily trailed 0-2, but equalized through Onyedika and Tresoldi. After an owngoal by Ordóñez, the Madrid side seemed to be victorious, but Tzolis deservedly equalized in extremis.
Ivan Leko had to make one necessary change to the team that beat Cercle on Sunday: Carlos Forbs had failed to get fit and was replaced by Christos Tzolis. Club hoped to score early, as they did against Marseille, but it was Atletico that struck immediately. Seys touched the ball with his hand in an aerial duel and after watching the footage, Swedish ref Nyberg pointed to the spot. Julian Alvarez took the gift in thanks and kicked the Spaniards into an immediate lead.
A disappointment for Blauw-Zwart, which did immediately go in search of the equalizer. After a fine attack Diakhon laid the ball wide to Onyedika, but his shot was saved by Oblak. Moments later, Tresoldi popped the leather just wide and his shot from the turn was cleverly caught by Oblak. Shortly thereafter, the Brugge side claimed a penalty kick after Koke appeared to hit the ball with his arm, but the Swedish ref and VAR allowed the game to continue. At the other end, a hard shot by Simeone whizzed over the crossbar.
Club continued to dominate but failed to score: after a nice attack Diakhon kicked the ball wide, while Oblak saved Onyedika's shot and Sabbe's cross. Meanwhile, Madrilenians were on the counter: Mignolet saved a shot by Alvarez, while Sabbe saved a cross from the same Alvarez just in front of Lookman. Deep into injury time, however, fate struck: a corner kick blew past everything and everyone and was tapped in by Lookman at the far post.
The Bruges players came out of the locker room with fresh courage and immediately went on the attack. A Diakhon cross was saved by Oblak and a Stanković cross was also blocked. The Blauw-Zwart attacking drive yielded results after just over five minutes: Tresoldi's header was first parried by Oblak, but Onyedika was able to tap in the rebound. On the hour, Jan Breydel exploded! Tresoldi slid a cross from Diakhon into the goal, bringing the score back into balance.
Club smelled blood and wanted to go for it. Oblak saved a shot by Stanković. Atlético also remained dangerous: a header by Sørloth hit the outside of the post and Mignolet saved an effort by the same Sørloth. Ten minutes before time, however, fate struck again: Ordóñez slid an unfortunate Llorente cross into his own goal.
Bruges refused to give up and continued to fight hard. Oblak proved that he is still a top goalkeeper and saved a shot by Tzolis. The deserved equalizer finally fell in the 90th minute: Tzolis slipped through the offside trap and kicked in the 3-3. Club Brugge thus keeps its chances cool and hopes to stunt next week in Madrid.
UEFA Champions League
Spectators: 29,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Zwe)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (81' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (86' Bjorn Meijer) - Aleksandar Stanković (86' Félix Lemaréchal), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Christos Tzolis, Nicolò Tresoldi (76' Romeo Vermant), Mamadou Diakhon (81' Shandre Campbell). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Ludovit Reis, Hugo Vetlesen, Bjorn Meijer, Gustaf Nilsson, Vince Osuji, Jorne Spileers. Coach: Ivan Leko.
Atlético de Madrid: Jan Oblak - Nahuel Molina, Marc Pubill, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri - Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Marcos Llorente, Ademola Lookman (62' Alex Baena) - Antoine Griezmann (66' Alexander Sørloth), Julian Alvarez. Coach: Diego Simeone.
Yellow cards: Pubill, Onyedika, Baena.
Red cards: none
Goals: 8' Alvarez (penalty, 0-1), 45+4' Lookman (0-2), 52' Onyedika (1-2), 60' Tresoldi (2-2), 79' Ordóñez (owngoal, 2-3), 90' Tzolis (3-3).