Alexander Sorloth scored a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid booked their place within the final 16 of the Champions League with a 4-1 win over Membership Brugge of their play-off second-leg.
Sorloth opened and concluded the scoring on the Estadio Metropolitano on Tuesday, with Diego Simeone’s aspect popping out on prime to win the tie 7-4 on combination and advance.
After an end-to-end begin, Atletico edged in entrance within the twenty third minute when Sorloth collected Jan Oblak’s lengthy punt ahead, with the Norwegian holding off Brandon Mechele’s problem earlier than firing a left-footed shot at purpose that by some means discovered its well past Simon Mignolet’s grasp.
However Joel Ordonez’s Thirty sixth-minute header deservedly hauled Brugge stage, with the visiting defender nodding house on the again submit after Mechele flicked on Christos Tzolis’ nook.
And the guests virtually led lower than a minute later, however Hugo Vetlesen’s point-blank header from one other Tzolis cross was brilliantly saved out on the road by Oblak.
That intervention proved essential for Atletico, who retook the lead three minutes into the second half, when Johnny Cardoso’s half-volley whistled into the bottom-left nook.
Brugge struggled to create something thereon, and their elimination from the competitors was all however confirmed 14 minutes from time when Ademola Lookman’s deflected cutback fell to Sorloth, who took a contact earlier than choosing out the nook from shut vary.
Nonetheless, there was nonetheless time for Sorloth to finish his treble, with the Atletico quantity 9 volleying Matteo Ruggeri’s teasing supply into the penalty space previous Mignolet within the 87th minute.
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— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 24, 2026
Knowledge Debrief: Sensational Sorloth seals European first
Atletico had did not win their final 4 video games towards Brugge whereas additionally going winless of their final three Champions League matches total, however Sorloth was at his scientific greatest right here to tee up a gathering with both Liverpool or Tottenham within the subsequent spherical.
Certainly, Sorloth grew to become simply the second Atletico participant to attain a Champions League hat-trick, after Mario Mandzukic, who did so towards Olympiacos in November 2014. He’s additionally now having fun with his greatest scoring marketing campaign in European competitors with 5 objectives.
Sorloth has additionally now scored as many objectives towards Brugge as he managed in his different 20 appearances within the Champions League mixed (three), however regardless of the scoreline depicting a cushty passage for Atletico, it was something however.
Brugge registered an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of 1.85 from their 11 pictures in comparison with Atletico’s 2.32 from their 14 makes an attempt.
Simeone will need to see enhancements from his staff heading into the following spherical, particularly from set-pieces. They’ve conceded eight objectives from such situations within the Champions League this time period, their most in a single version of the competitors.
