Alexander Sorloth scored his first Champions League hat-trick as Atletico Madrid defeated a tenacious Club Brugge to set up a match with either Tottenham or Liverpool in the round of sixteen.
After collecting a long ball from goalkeeper Jan Oblak, the Norway striker’s half-volley crept past Simon Mignolet to open the scoring in the 23rd minute.
Joel Ordonez, however, who scored an own goal in the home first leg when the two teams tied 3-3, headed level from a corner 13 minutes later to give Brugge the lead.
Three minutes into the second half, American international Johnny Cardoso hammered home a low goal to put Atletico ahead 5-4 on aggregate with the tie still up for grabs.
The La Liga side’s performance was further enhanced by the outstanding Sorloth, who scored two goals in the last 14 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano to secure a matchup with Premier League opponents in the following round.
Diego Simeone’s team got off to a quick start at home with Sorloth in goal after a slow finish to the first leg last week, where they blew a two-goal advantage.
The attacker, who is starting in Antoine Griezmann’s place, demonstrated terrific control when Oblak picked him up and surprised Mignolet with a shot from inside the area.
However, as demonstrated by their valiant comeback in the first leg, Brugge refused to be overwhelmed and tied the score nine minutes before halftime.
Ordonez headed in to make up for his own goal in the first leg after Brandon Mechele flicked a corner on at the near post.
Less than two minutes later, Hugo Vetlesen believed he had given the visitors the lead when he struck a Christos Tzolis ball, but Oblak made an incredible stop to deny him.
After halftime, Atletico Madrid accelerated and took the lead once more thanks to a rasping volley from outside the box from midfielder Cardoso, who scored his first goal for the team.
With two assured goals in the closing 14 minutes, the in-form Sorloth, who scored twice against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, completed his hat-trick and ended his team’s three-game Champions League winless streak.
