Atlético Madrid bounced back in style with a commanding 3-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise to revive their Champions League campaign.
Julián Álvarez and Conor Gallagher found the net to put Diego Simeone’s men in control, before Ross Sykes gave the visitors late hope.
However, Marcos Llorente’s stoppage-time rocket ensured Atlético claimed their second victory in four group matches, following their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Arsenal last time out.
Union nearly stunned the hosts early on when Kevin Rodríguez missed a golden chance, poking wide from close range.
Atlético eventually took the lead in the 39th minute, Giuliano Simeone burst down the right and squared for Álvarez, who coolly slotted through the legs of Kjell Scherpen for his ninth goal of the season.
Antoine Griezmann thought he had doubled the lead before the break, tucking in a rebound after Koke’s strike, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
The Belgian side refused to fold, with Promise David going close after a well-worked free kick. But Atlético struck again in the 72nd minute when Alexander Sørloth’s driving run caused chaos, and Gallagher reacted quickest to lash the loose ball into the top corner.
Union clawed one back eight minutes from time as Sykes rose highest to nod in Sofiane Boufal’s pinpoint cross, setting up a tense finale.
Yet any comeback hopes were crushed deep into stoppage time, when Llorente unleashed a ferocious finish to wrap up all three points for the Spanish side.
