After a spectacular game at Jan Breydel, Club Brugge booked a first leg result leaving all hopes open as they took on Atlético de Madrid one week later. Midway through the first half, Atlético took the lead through Sørloth, but a strong Club drew level through Ordóñez. Early in the second half, the home team took the lead again after a Cardoso shot, and Atlético made the most of Club going all-or-nothing, extending the score to a harsh 4-1, twice through Sørloth.
After the 2-1 home win vs OH Leuven, coach Ivan Leko made four changes to the team facing an Atlético de Madrid side that had also proven victorious over the weekend. In defense, wingers Siquet and Meijer were replaced by Sabbe and Seys, while in midfield, Stanković reclaimed his spot at the expense of Lemaréchal. Finally, with Onyedika out suspended, Vetlesen once again manned the pitch. For the home side, the most notable fact was the absence of Griezmann in the starting XI.
The opening minutes saw an unabashed Club, resulting in a first real threat four minutes into the game, as ball loss by the home side brought it to Tresoldi, who fired away from quite a distance, but his attempt was deflected into a corner kick. The home team's reaction was not long in the making when Stanković was unable to clear the ball inside the box, but Baena could not take advantage and kicked somewhat wildly across goal. Soon after, Stanković tried his luck from afar, but his shot was too central to unsettle Oblak. Just before the quarter-hour mark, some commotion inside the box unravelled after a low cross ended up with Simeone, going down after an alleged tap by Mignolet, but both the ref and VAR waved play on. A few minutes later the hosts again served up some fine combinations as first Forbs' cross did not reach a teammate, but eventually Vanaken was able to lay it back for Vetlesen; the Norwegian midfielder took a good shot with his left, but found Hancko on his way heading away what would have been a five star chance at goal.
Unfortunately, halfway through the first half the goal fell on the other side of the pitch. A long kick by Oblak found Sørloth well inside Club's half. The Norwegian held Mechele off well and then tried his luck from the turn, seeing the bal capriole over Mignolet in goal, miscalculating the shot. The goal came as a boost for Atlético, and more chances followed. Álvarez tried his luck heading a Ruggeri cross just wide. Just like in the home game, however, Club showed resilience and made it all square still inside the frist half. A corner kick by Tzolis found Mechele by the first post, heading on towards the far post where Ordóñez was able to head in the equalizer. This time it was Club that was out for blood, asking the Atlético some serious questions. A cross from Tzolis reached Vetlesen, creeping in front of his man to head in from close range. Unfortunately, Oblak lashed out with a world-class save to prevent a Bruges lead. The home team responded through Sørloth with a similar move to the 1-0, but this time the shot went over and wide of target. The final threat of the first half, however, was again in blue and black, but again Vetlesen was unable to get a fine enough touch on a hard cross from Tzolis to trouble Oblak.
The same 22 names manned the pitch in the second half, and this time it was Atlético with the finest start, restulting in a second home goal just a few minutes in. A cleared cross fell to the feet of Cardoso just outside the box. The midfielder did not hesitate and fired it past Mignolet to offer the Madridistas a new lead (2-1). Behind once again in this double encounter, Club took some time to shake it off, but eventually responded through Tzolis. The Greek winger came inside before popping towards goal, but Oblak went flat well. The game went back and forth well, as the hosts also came squeaking back in. Ruggeri found Sørloth's head in the sixteen, but his header landed straight in Mignolet's hands. Just before midway through the second half, Club showed themselves once again with a nice combination that eventually ended up with Sabbe, but his effort from just outside the box was unfortunately blocked. After this, Ivan Leko decided to intervene for the first time bringing on Vermant and Diakhon for Tresoldi and Vetlesen.
After 75 minutes of play, and several substitutions at both sides, Club was dealt another blow. After a quick counterattack, Griezmann and Lookman were able to cut through the Bruges defense. The ball ended up at the feet of Sørloth, who outsmarted Mignolet from close range to make it 3-1. Leko tried to turn the tide by bringing on Nilsson and Lemaréchal, but they could not force anything immediately. It was Atlético, on the other hand, that threatened at the end of the match through a Lookman shot that went over goal. Soon after, however, the result was put beyond doubt as Sørloth fired in his third of the evening from close range upon a fine cross.
The added three minutes came with one more threat for the home team as Llorente was able to push through, but the midfielder placed the leather wide of Mignolet's goal. An emphatic defeat for Club in the end, but also much room for pride as Club leaves the European stage with their heads held high.
UEFA Champions League - Play-off round (2nd leg)
Audience: 70,000 - Riyadh Air Metropolitano
Referee: Mr. Clément Turpin (Fra)
Atlético de Madrid: Jan Oblak - Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Dávid Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri - Giuliano Simeone (83' José María Giménez), Johnny Cardoso (83' Rodrigo Mendoza), Koke (69' Nahuel Molina), Álex Baena (69' Ademola Lookman) - Alexander Sørloth, Julián Álvarez (58' Antoine Griezmann).
Bench: Juan Musso, Salvador Esquivel, José María Giménez, Rodrigo Mendoza, Antoine Griezmann, Thiago Almada, Clément Lenglet, Nahuel Molina, Obed Vargas, Ademola Lookman, Robin Le Normand.
Coach: Diego Simeone.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele (88' Bjorn Meijer), Joaquin Seys (82' Félix Lemaréchal) - Hugo Vetlesen (65' Mamadou Diakhon), Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs, Nicolò Tresoldi (65' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (82' Gustaf Nilsson).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Cisse Sandra, Bjorn Meijer, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson, Vince Osuji, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers, Mamadou Diakhon, Félix Lemaréchal, Shandre Campbell.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Yellow: Ordóñez, Llorente, Vermant
Red: none
Goals: 23' Sørloth (1-0), 36' Ordóñez (1-1), 48' Cardoso (2-1), 76' Sørloth (3-1), 87' Sørloth (4-1)