Following a chaotic 3-3 draw in the first leg, Diego Simeone opted for structural security at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, deploying a hybrid 5-3-2 that transitioned into a 3-4-1-2 in possession. The primary tactical objective was to bypass Club Brugge’s aggressive mid-block, which had caused significant turnovers in Belgium. Atletico Madrid maintained 58% possession throughout the first half, focusing on wide rotations between Marc Pubill and Alex Baena to stretch the Brugge backline. The visitors, missing the suspended Raphael Onyedika, struggled to maintain vertical compactness, allowing Koke to dictate the tempo from a deep-lying pivot role. Despite the territorial dominance, the opening 20 minutes remained a tactical stalemate as Ivan Leko’s side effectively compressed the space between the lines, limiting Julian Alvarez’s influence to just 14 touches in the final third.
Sørloth’s Physicality and the Metropolitano Surge
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute. After a sustained period of pressure, Alexander Sørloth showcased his elite aerial and hold-up play. Following a lightning-fast counter-attack ignited by a Jan Oblak throw, Sørloth surged into the box, cut inside Brandon Mechele, and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike. The goal, registered with an xG value of 0.44, fundamentally altered the tactical landscape. Club Brugge were forced to abandon their reactive 4-4-2 shape, pushing their full-backs higher and leaving their center-backs isolated in 1v1 situations against the physical Norwegian. Although Joel Ordóñez momentarily silenced the home crowd with a header in the 35th minute to level the score at 1-1, Atleti’s physical superiority in the box remained the defining factor of the night.
The Cardoso Catalyst and Transitional Lethality
The match swung decisively again in the 48th minute. Johnny Cardoso capitalized on a poor clearance following a corner to unleash a thunderous right-footed strike from 22 yards. The goal, a low-probability chance with an xG of 0.04, re-established Atleti's lead and broke Brugge's resolve. Simeone’s side immediately pivoted to a transitional model, exploiting the space behind Brugge’s high line. The home side’s efficiency in these transitions was reflected in their 8.4 defensive line-breaking passes metric. By the time Sørloth added his second in the 76th minute—a clinical finish into the top right corner—the Rojiblancos were in total control of the half-spaces. The tactical introduction of Rodrigo De Paul further stabilized the midfield, as he recorded a 91% pass completion rate in the final 20 minutes.
Hat-Trick Heroics and Final Metrics
The final blow was delivered in the 86th minute when Sørloth completed his hat-trick. Exploiting a corner-kick routine, he slotted home a close-range right-footed finish to make it 4-1. This performance was a masterclass in target-man efficiency, with Sørloth winning 75% of his aerial duels and converting three of his four big chances. Atletico finished the match with a cumulative xG of 2.14 compared to Brugge's 0.82, a testament to the quality of chances created through Simeone’s second-half adjustments. Defensively, Atleti recorded 22 successful tackles and 15 interceptions, turning the match into a series of contested duels that they won with a 59% success rate.
Brugge’s Tactical Shortcomings and Defensive Fragility
Ivan Leko will rue the absence of Onyedika, as the Belgian champions lacked the necessary bite in central midfield to disrupt Atleti’s build-up. Hans Vanaken, usually the conductor for Brugge, was limited to a 78% pass completion rate, far below his seasonal average, as Simeone’s tactical instructions to shadow him with Cardoso and Koke paid dividends. The final aggregate score of 7-4 reflects a tie where tactical maturity eventually overcame youthful energy. Atletico Madrid's ability to protect leads at home remains a hallmark of the era; they have now kept 13 clean sheets in their last 17 European home knockout games when leading at the hour mark. This victory extends their unbeaten run in UCL knockout home games to 20 matches, reinforcing the Metropolitano as a fortress for continental ambition as they march into the Round of 16.