After a topsy-turvy encounter peppered with goals, Club Brugge secured a 3-3 draw against Atlético de Madrid in the knockout round of the Champions League. Trailing 0-2 at half-time after what had been an impressive first half performance nonetheless, Club soon equalized in a more productive second half through Onyedika and Tresoldi. After an owngoal by Ordóñez, the Madridistas seemed victory-bound, but Tzolis made it 3-3 in the closing stages of another night to remember at Jan Breydel.
Ivan Leko was forced to change the team that had beaten Cercle on that snowy Sunday, replacing an unfit Carlos Forbs for Christos Tzolis. An eager Atlético kicked off well, with the better of play in the first opening minutes, resulting in a swift opener. VAR intervened after Seys had un unfortunate touch of the ball with his hand in an aerial duel, and Swedish ref Nyberg pointed towards the spot. Julian Alvarez eagerly unwrapped that gift, seemingly causing quite a dent in Club's hopes of qualification.
Not taken aback, Club went in search of the equalizer, and after a fine attack Diakhon laid it wide to Onyedika, but his shot was too central and saved by Oblak. Moments later, Tresoldi popped the leather just wide and his shot from the turn was cleverly caught by Oblak. Shortly thereafter, the hosts claimed a penalty tehemselves after Koke appeared to hit the ball with his arm, but the Swedish ref and VAR allowed the game to continue. At the other end, a hard shot by Simeone whizzed over the crossbar.
Club remained in charge, but failed to score: after a nice attack Diakhon aimed for the far post, but put it just wide, while Oblak smartly saved Onyedika's shot and Sabbe's cross. Meanwhile, Atlético kept luring on the break: Mignolet saved a shot by Alvarez, while Sabbe saved a cross from that same Alvarez just before it fell to Lookman. A corner kick deep into injury time seemed to put the game out of the hosts' reach, as it went past everything and everyone towards the far post, where Lookman beat Stankovic to the ball to make it a very harsh 0-2.
An impressive and forceful first half left Club with hope to turn it around, if only it could repeat those efforts in the second, with more productivity. And so it came about. First a Diakhon cross was saved by Oblak and a Stanković cross was also blocked, but five minutes into the second half, Blue & Black's attacking drive yielded results: Tresoldi with the header parried by Oblak, but Onyedika followed up well to tap in the rebound (1-2). On the hour mark, Jan Breydel really started believing in that remontada as Tresoldi slid a cross from Diakhon into goal, bringing the score back into balance (2-2).
Club smelled blood and wanted to go for it. Oblak saved a shot by Stanković, but Atlético also remained dangerous: a header by Sørloth hit the outside of the post and Mignolet had the perfect save in store to deny that same Sørloth. Ten minutes before time, however, fate struck again as Ordóñez tapped it in his own goal from close range upon a slicing Llorente cross (2-3).
But still it wasn't over, with a Bruges side unwilling to give up. Oblak proved that he still has what it takes at this level, saving a shot by Tzolis, who had switched wings to cut inside from the left. The deserved equalizer finally fell in the 90th minute: Tzolis slipped through the offside trap and hammered it in to make it a truely deserved 3-3. Off for another upset in Madrid next week?
UEFA Champions League
Audience: 29,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Glenn Nyberg (Zwe)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (81' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (86' Bjorn Meijer) - Aleksandar Stanković (86' Félix Lemaréchal), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Christos Tzolis, Nicolò Tresoldi (76' Romeo Vermant), Mamadou Diakhon (81' Shandre Campbell).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Ludovit Reis, Hugo Vetlesen, Bjorn Meijer, Gustaf Nilsson, Vince Osuji, Jorne Spileers.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Atlético de Madrid: Jan Oblak - Nahuel Molina, Marc Pubill, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri - Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Marcos Llorente, Ademola Lookman (62' Alex Baena) - Antoine Griezmann (66' Alexander Sørloth), Julian Alvarez.
Coach: Diego Simeone.
Yellow: Pubill, Onyedika, Baena.
Red: none
Goals: 8' Alvarez (penalty, 0-1), 45+4' Lookman (0-2), 52' Onyedika (1-2), 60' Tresoldi (2-2), 79' Ordóñez (owngoal, 2-3), 90' Tzolis (3-3).