Christos Tzolis struck deep into stoppage time to earn Club Brugge a dramatic 3-3 draw against Atlético Madrid, as the Spanish side’s defensive woes in the Champions League persisted.
Diego Simeone’s men looked set to take a slim advantage into the second leg after Joel Ordonez inadvertently turned the ball into his own net late on.
But Brugge responded in the closing moments, with Raphael Onyedika threading a precise pass for Tzolis, who finished calmly across Jan Oblak.
A VAR review confirmed the forward had timed his run perfectly to stay onside.
Simeone admitted the game unfolded largely as expected, describing Brugge as one of the most energetic sides his team had faced in the competition.
He noted that Atlético controlled the first half but lost momentum after the break, allowing the hosts back into the contest.
The draw extended Atlético’s defensive struggles in Europe, with the La Liga side still without a clean sheet this season and now having conceded at least three goals in three separate matches.
They have shipped 15 goals in seven games overall.
Atlético had taken command early on. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the eighth minute after Joaquin Seys was adjudged to have handled the ball.
The Argentine striker’s effort marked his 12th goal in just 18 Champions League appearances.
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Ademola Lookman doubled the lead just before the interval, turning home at the far post after Antoine Griezmann flicked on a corner.
However, Brugge mounted a swift comeback after the restart. Six minutes into the second half, Oblak could only parry Nicolo Tresoldi’s header from a corner, allowing Onyedika to pounce from close range.
The hosts levelled around the hour mark when Mamadou Diakhon’s cross from the left was met by Tresoldi at the near post.
Atlético nearly restored their advantage when Alexander Sorloth struck the crossbar with a header, but they did go back in front in the 79th minute as Ordonez, under pressure from Sorloth, diverted Marcos Llorente’s delivery into his own net.
Yet the drama was not over. In the dying moments, Tzolis delivered the final blow, ensuring Brugge carried momentum into the return leg.
Simeone later reflected that the draw was a fair outcome, acknowledging that both sides created chances, and stressed that the tie remains open ahead of the second leg in Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
