Sorloth hits hat-trick as Atletico Madrid crush Club Brugge to reach UCL last 16

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Atletico Madrid powered into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with a commanding 4-1 victory over Club Brugge KV on Tuesday night, as Alexander Sorloth delivered a clinical hat-trick in a pulsating second-leg encounter.

After a dramatic 3-3 draw in the first leg, Diego Simeone’s men rose to the occasion at home, combining physical intensity with attacking precision to seal a 7-4 aggregate triumph in the playoff tie.

Sorloth opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, capitalising on a precise build-up before firing a low strike beyond Simon Mignolet to settle early nerves.

However, Brugge responded in the 36th minute when Joel Ordonez nodded home from close range to level the contest at 1-1, briefly shifting the momentum.

Atletico regained control after the break. Johnny Cardoso restored the lead in the 48th minute with a sharp finish from the edge of the area following a rebound, putting the Spanish side ahead 2-1 on the night.

The defining moment came midway through the second half when substitute Ademola Lookman injected pace and creativity into Atletico’s attack.

In the 76th minute, Lookman threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the box for Sorloth, who calmly slotted home his second of the evening to stretch the lead to 3-1.

Sorloth completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, rising to meet a cross from Matteo Ruggeri and steering his effort inside the right post to put the result beyond doubt.

Club Brugge had a brief lifeline when they appealed for a penalty in the 70th minute, but referee Clement Turpin waved away the claims after a VAR review confirmed no infringement.

Jan Oblak also produced crucial saves earlier in the contest, notably denying Hugo Vetlesen and Christos Tzolis to preserve Atletico’s advantage.

The Spanish giants dominated possession in the latter stages, controlling the tempo and frustrating the Belgian side, whose late efforts failed to trouble the scoreboard.