Atlético Madrid stormed into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with a commanding 4-1 second-leg victory over Club Brugge KV, sealing a 7-4 aggregate triumph in their knockout play-off tie.
Despite Brugge’s spirited display in the first leg, it was Atlético who struck first in Madrid. An early opening fell to Giuliano Simeone, though the visitors survived a tense VAR review involving goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
The breakthrough eventually arrived midway through the first half, and it came through Alexander Sørloth.
The Norwegian forward muscled past Brandon Mechele with ease before firing a shot that slipped awkwardly past Mignolet.
With Atlético boasting 13 clean sheets in their previous 17 European home knockout matches, the task looked steep for the Belgian side. However, Brugge responded bravely.
Mechele made amends for his earlier error by redirecting a corner into the path of Joel Ordóñez, who levelled the tie on aggregate for the third time.
The visitors nearly stunned the hosts moments later when Christos Tzolis delivered an inviting cross for Hugo Vetlesen, but Jan Oblak produced a superb save to preserve parity at the break.
Atlético wasted little time regaining control after the restart. Johnny Cardoso netted his maiden Champions League goal in spectacular fashion, rifling in from distance beyond Mignolet.
Tzolis remained a threat for Brugge, testing Oblak again from range, but the Slovenian shot-stopper stood firm. Any lingering tension was eased when Sørloth struck again, finishing off slick interplay between substitutes Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann.
The Norwegian completed his hat-trick late on, rising unmarked from a corner to cap a clinical display and confirm Atlético’s passage.
The Spanish side have now stretched their unbeaten run in regulation time in Champions League knockout fixtures to 20 matches (13 wins, seven draws).
They will meet either Liverpool FC or Tottenham Hotspur in the Round of 16, with the draw set for Friday and first-leg encounters scheduled for March.
