Report: Atlético’s rollercoaster ride continues in Bruges | OneFootball

Bittersweet taste in the match in Bruges, with a good result for the second leg (3-3), but with the feeling that it could have been much better than it actually was for Atlético in the Champions League. The second leg and the Metropolitano will decide the outcome.

Things started well for Simeone’s team, with an early goal thanks to a penalty that the referee did not award live, but which VAR corrected. It all happened in a play where Seys handled the ball inside the box during a tussle with Hancko. The protests were clear and VAR sent Glenn Nyberg to review the play, and the penalty that was finally awarded was sensationally converted by Julián Alvarez, who scored again in Europe.

We were only in the first ten minutes of the game, and that’s when Bruges pressed and had many chances to equalize, but without success and with good interventions from Oblak, who, facing shots from outside the box, managed to read the ball well and repel the chances created by the Belgians.

There was no other clear chance for Atlético until the 38th minute, when Julián Álvarez shot from the edge of the box and the Bruges goalkeeper easily saved it, in an intense Champions duel. But before Mignolet’s intervention, there had been a phase of the match where the red-and-white team had shaken off Bruges’ intense pressure.

Then came the last chance of the first half, where Atlético found their second goal from a corner. Lookman was very alert to Julián Álvarez’s corner kick, which Griezmann flicked on at the near post and the Nigerian finished at the far post. A lead that ultimately could not be held in the second half.

Atlético could not hold on to their lead

Atleti could not hold on to their lead, thanks to a very good start by the home side in the second half. The goal came very soon, with a ball that could not be cleared properly and ended up at Onyedika’s feet, after a great save by Oblak from a Tresolid header. Onyedika finished off the rebound at will, with Hancko unable to either play Tresolid offside or get to the rebound before Onyedika after Oblak’s save.

It was the 51st minute and very shortly after came the equalizer with a goal from Tresolid that was a blow for our team. Diakhon broke into the box very well, crossed very close to the six-yard box, and Tresolid got ahead of everyone to secure an unexpected equalizer before the break.

With the substitutions and the entrance of Sorloth and Baena, the team’s approach changed a bit (although at the cost of losing Lookman’s speed on the wings). And very soon, the benefits of their entry became apparent. Koke connected with the Norwegian and the ball hit the crossbar, in a clear chance for Atleti’s third goal.

A third goal, which also had the Norwegian as the protagonist. In the 79th minute, a great run by Llorente tried to find Sorloth at the far post. The ball didn’t reach him because Ordoñez got there first, but unfortunately for the Belgians, he sent it into his own net and it was 2-3, with ten minutes to go.

Once again, they could not hold on to the result, with a ball that reached Tzolis on the left wing, who shot at will and beat Oblak. At first, it was ruled out for offside, but VAR corrected the linesman, as Molina had played Tzolis onside.

Everything is to be decided in the second leg and there is full faith that the Metropolitano will rule in our favor. It’s time for a positive turning point in the season and in just a week (with the second legs of the Champions League and the Cup), the team’s future this season could be defined.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.