Champions League — Sorloth hat-trick propels Atletico Madrid to round of 16

Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth scored a hat-trick as the Spanish side defeated Belgian side Club Brugge on Tuesday to win the second leg of their Champions League play-off 4-1 and progress to the last 16 with a 7-4 aggregate win.

Johnny Cardoso scored the other goal for the home side, while Joel Ordonez scored for Brugge in the 36th minute.

Atletico opened the scoring after Bruges’ Hugo Vetlesen blocked two good chances in the early stages as the Belgians came out of the blocks with attacking intentions and a high-pressure game despite being unwanted after a 3-3 draw in the first leg last week.

But Atlético’s quality prevailed after a dominant second half and on Friday the round of 16 will determine whether they will play Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.

Sorloth fired in a shot that squirmed under the body of Brugge’s experienced goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in the 23rd minute after cleverly blocking a long kick from home goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The Norwegian striker took a few touches before shooting with his left, allowing ⁠Mignolet to slide under his body.

However, Brugge scored a deserved equalizer from a set piece. Brandon Mechele tapped into Christos Tzolis’ corner from the left and left Ordonez with a simple header from close range.

Shortly afterwards, Oblak made a brilliant one-handed save on the line to deny Vetlesen.

But where Bruges was competitive in the first half, that faded after the break.

The home lead was restored two minutes into the second half when Cardoso smashed home an effort from the edge of the penalty area. Mechele cleared Giuliano Simeone’s cross from the left, but his header fell to Cardoso, who controlled with his chest before converting with his right foot.

Sorloth’s second ⁠ came in the 76th minute, when he headed home left-footed after ⁠ passes between substitutes Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann gave him an easy finish.

The Norway international then converted Matteo Ruggeri’s cross from the left at the back post with another side-footed shot in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick and highlight Atletico’s dominance in the second half tgb6.

Published on February 25, 2026