Atletico Madrid twice surrendered the lead in a dramatic 3–3 draw against Club Brugge in their UEFA Champions League play-off first leg on Wednesday night.
The side coached by Diego Simeone raced into a 2–0 first-half lead, but the hosts rallied to level at 2–2. After an own goal restored Atletico’s advantage, Greek winger Christos Tzolis struck a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser.
Atletico, who are yet to win the Champions League and are struggling for pace in La Liga, see cup competitions as their best chance of silverware this season. However, defensive lapses left the tie finely balanced ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg, with a place in the last 16 at stake.
“We were two up and didn’t know how to hold on to the lead,” Atletico captain Koke told Movistar.
“It was a rollercoaster, like it’s been all season. We have to concentrate more.”
Atletico opened the scoring through a penalty from Julián Álvarez after a handball by Joaquin Seys. The striker, whose spot-kick against Real Madrid in last year’s competition was controversially ruled out for a double touch, converted confidently.
Despite the early setback, Brugge created chances, with Mamadou Diakhon firing narrowly wide and Jan Oblak saving from Raphael Onyedika.
However, the visitors doubled their lead before the break when Ademola Lookman finished from close range after Antoine Griezmann flicked on Alvarez’s corner.
Brugge pulled one back in the 52nd minute as Onyedika tapped home after Oblak denied Nicolo Tresoldi from close range. Tresoldi then equalised on the hour mark, finishing clinically from Diakhon’s cross to ignite the crowd at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Atletico nearly regained control when Alexander Sørloth headed narrowly wide, but they went back in front after Joel Ordóñez turned the ball into his own net.
The hosts had the final say, however, as Tzolis finished calmly after being played through on the left in the 90th minute. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but was awarded following a VAR review.
