of Atlético’s four goals and priceless clever work, they finished off a Brugge team that had refused to give up the tie at the Jan Breydel and the Metropolitano. Oblak, with a save, reflected the threat that the Belgian team was. Only with Cardoso’s 2-1 lead, Simeone’s team was able to settle in the second half, after suffering in the first, and close the tie on the counterattack.
4
Jan Oblak, Marc Pubill, Marcos Llorente, Matteo Ruggeri, Dávid Hancko, Giuliano Simeone (José María Giménez, min. 82), Álex Baena (Ademola Lookman, min. 69), Johnny Cardoso (Rodrigo Mendoza, min. 82), Koke (Nahuel Molina, min. 69), Julián Alvarez (Antoine Griezmann, min. 57) and Alexander Sørloth
1
Simon Mignolet, Joaquin Seys (Félix Lemaréchal, min. 81), Joel Ordóñez, Kyriani Sabbe, Brandon Mechele (Bjorn Meijer, min. 87), Hans Vanaken, Hugo Vetlesen (Mamadou Diakhon, min. 65), Aleksandar Stankovic, Carlos Forbs, Christos Tzolis (Gustaf Nilsson, min. 81) and Nicolò Tresoldi (Romeo Vermant, min. 64)
Goals
1-0 min. 22: Sorloth. 1-1 min. 35: Joel Ordonez. 2-1 min. 47: Johnny. 3-1 min. 75: Sorloth. 4-1 min. Chapter 86: Sorloth
Referee Clement Turpin
yellow cards
Joel Ordóñez (min. 39), Romeo Vermant (min. 84), Marcos Llorente (min. 84)
In the case of Atlético, very contained and even hesitant with the ball, with too many safety passes. On the part of Bruges, complex outside, aware that it was an all-or-nothing duel, Leko and his players were faithful to their proposal of always attacking in packs and looking for the wingers. An attractive team is Brujas de Leko, with a good mix of experience and youth. Mechele as godfather of the exuberant Ordóñez in the axis of defense and Vanaken de Stankovic in the direction. Leko was daring, because he replaced his anchor Onyedika, who was suspended, with Vetlesen, a ten to do damage between the lines or appearing by surprise in the area. The Belgian champion was crowned by the mobility of Tresoldi and his daggers stuck to the lime, Tzolis on the left and the promising Forbs, low in the first leg, as a wishbone on the right wing.
to whom the Portuguese haggler gave him a hard time for calling him so many times. Somehow the Italian full-back emerged the winner, who was disadvantaged by Llorente playing as the third centre-back and Giuliano as the fifth defender. Baena, as the third midfielder, did not reach Ruggeri’s help. The man from Almería took Lookman’s place, more of a scorer in his first games than an overflow player and, at times, disconnected from defensive work.
Bruges connected easily with their wingers due to their numerical inferiority in the middle. Atlético almost defended itself better with the ball, with those formal touches, than in the retreat. It took more than five minutes to link up some damaging play. Bruges were better and Vetlesen had the goal from a drop shot by Vanaken, who either organized, cut in his own area or assisted in the rival’s. The Norwegian finished off centered and Hancko avoided the goal.
It was difficult for Atlético to progress because Bruges let Koke and Cardoso be so far away from the centre-backs that they only had two options: either take risks with drives to break through the pressure of Bruges’ forwards or make blunt passes. So Atlético found the goal the quickest and simplest way, skipping all of Bruges’ lines with Oblak’s long kick looking for Sorloth. The Norwegian stretched the balloon, controlling it and struggling with Mechelen until he stepped into the area and unleashed a hard, centered left foot shot that Mignolet swallowed. A shot, a goal in just over twenty minutes thanks to the Norwegian, more plugged in than ever. It’s a shame that Julián Alvarez doesn’t fully tune in or understand what it means to play with a forward with those characteristics. The Argentine does not lack commitment and sacrifice, but he needs to mix his virtues with a better reading of everything Sorloth does as a reference or when he falls to the wings.
The goal did not defeat Bruges, who continued doing their thing. To play well and stress Ruggeri and Giuliano. From that insistence he chipped a couple of corner kicks and the second was scored at the near post by Mechele and finished off by Ordóñez. The goal did justice to the bravery of Bruges, who tied the tie for the fourth time. And he could have tilted it in his favor if Oblak had not made one of the saves in this Champions League. Vetlesen headed him in at point-blank range and the Slovenian did a splendid exercise of reflexes and forearm power to put his mitt in and take the ball over the line.
With the tie at one and the concern generated by the superiority of Bruges, Atlético came out more determined in the second act. And he found a quick goal. Cardoso hit a volley off a rebound on the edge of the area. The North American feels more comfortable in the opponent’s field, pressing and arriving than starting the game in his own field. The goal will be good for you. Bruges did not give up, they continued to harass. Simeone replaced the gray Julián with Griezmann before Sorloth finished his big night. A textbook counter ended with Lookman and another good center from Ruggeri, who is progressing adequately in attack. Three goals, the team’s top scorer with 15, to put Atlético in the round of 16, where Liverpool or Tottenham await them.
