Atletico Madrid twice surrendered the lead in a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Wednesday.
Diego Simeone’s side surged into a 2-0 first-half advantage but were pegged back to 2-2, and after an own goal restored their lead, Greek winger Christos Tzolis struck in the 90th minute to earn the hosts a crucial equaliser.
The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg, with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Atletico, still chasing a first Champions League title and trailing in the La Liga title race, view European competition as their most realistic path to silverware this season. But defensive lapses in Bruges left them frustrated.
“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 took the lead early through a Julian Alvarez penalty after Joaquin Seys handled carelessly. Alvarez made no mistake from the spot, emphatically converting after last season’s controversial double-touch penalty against Real Madrid led to Atletico’s elimination.
Despite the setback, Brugge responded well. Mamadou Diakhon curled narrowly wide and Jan Oblak denied Raphael Onyedika, but the visitors doubled their lead before halftime. Ademola Lookman finished from close range after Antoine Griezmann flicked on Alvarez’s corner.
Brugge halved the deficit in the 52nd minute when Onyedika tapped in following a superb Oblak save to deny Nicolo Tresoldi. The German striker then brought the hosts level on the hour mark, clinically finishing Diakhon’s cross to ignite the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Alexander Sorloth headed narrowly wide as Atletico pushed for a third, and they regained the advantage when Joel Ordonez diverted the ball into his own net.
But Brugge had the final word. In the 90th minute, Tzolis was played in down the left and finished calmly. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but awarded after a VAR review, ensuring a pulsating contest heads to Madrid delicately poised.
