The Brugge sensation continues. The Belgians, attractive and realistic, impressed again to dispose of Atlético de Madrid 2-0. The Flemish club are seriously approaching the round of 16 with 9 points conceded thanks to a superb three out of three during this first leg. Weighed down by a lack of creativity and a crossbar from Antoine Griezmann on the penalty spot, the Colchoneros sign a second loss in a row in the Champions League.
Seven goals scored. None cashed. The conclusion is relentless: the Bruges sensation is confirmed and amplified from match to match. Atlético de Madrid tripped over the carpet on Tuesday evening on the lawn of the astonishing Belgian formation. Carl Hoekfens’ team relied on the same recipe that had allowed his side to trap Leverkusen (1-0) and crush Porto (4-0), namely high pressing when the ball was lost, audacity in the transmissions and realism in the finish.
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Faced with this cocktail, the Colchoneros dyke, though reputed to be solid, gave way for the first time. Served on a plate by Jutgla, Kamal Sowah pushed the ball into the back of the net (36th). The people of Madrid had however offered themselves the most frank opportunities before but lacked composure in front of the cages, like the face-to-face missed by Morata (26th).
Clumsy Griezmann
This clumsiness cost Diego Simeone’s troupe dearly in the second act. A lack of realism embodied by Griezmann, first on a strike from the right (52nd) then on a penalty catapulted over the bar at 2-0 against his team (76th). Because, for their part, the people of Bruges were able to turn their backs and continue to apply their polished game in sequences. And that launched by Jutgla, again him, for Buchanan allowed the Catalan striker to put his team away (64th).
Carried by his youth, like Onyedika in the middle or even Tajon Buchanan, very restless on his right wing, the Belgians sometimes seemed disturbingly the most experienced team on the lawn to maintain their lead and continue to produce play.
In the standings, Bruges took advantage of Porto’s victory against Leverkusen to soar with 9 points and see the round of 16, the other three teams having only three. Atlético are far from having mortgaged their chances but a second defeat in a row in C1 makes a stain in a rather affordable group on paper.
The Flemish formation has become the third team in the Kingdom to line up three consecutive victories in C1 after Anderlecht (2000) and La Gantoise (2015) and, if it continues to play in this way, could invite itself at the big table next February.
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