Among the players and staff of Club Brugge there was a mixture of sadness at being knocked out and pride at what had been achieved during this season’s Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening. The West Flemish lost their Champions League knockout stage tie against Atlético Madrid 7-3 on aggregate. Club Brugge had drawn the home leg 3-3, but suffered a 4-1 defeat in the return leg in Madrid.
The former AA Gent striker Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring, before Club Brugge’s Joel Ordóñez equalised to make it 1-1 at half-time.
The US international Johnny Cardoso put Atlético in front again three minutes into the second half and with Club chasing another equaliser, Sørloth scored twice more to claim his first Champions League hat-trick.
“Sadness and pride”
In a reaction following the game the Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko said that felt “first sadness but then pride. We showed football with energy and intensity. We were not afraid to lose ... Next year we will come back to do better.”
The Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone had word of praise for Club Brugge. “Club Brugge have a young squad, with brilliant midfielders. They are very fast in attack and have very strong and brave attackers. Their coach uses an attractive style of play.”