Atletico Madrid’s woes continue as Club Brugge who has been impressive since the start of the Champions League book their place in the knockout stages after holding the home side to a draw in Madrid.
The Belgian side are guaranteed to progress from Group B after keeping Diego Simeone’s side at bay in Madrid, despite finishing the game with 10 men after Kamal Sowah was sent off in the final stages.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet made a series of impressive saves to deny the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa, frustrating the Spanish side, who are on four points from four games, six behind Group C leaders Brugge, despite having more shots on target and more possession.
The visitors had the better of the opening stages, with Ferran Jutgla, who shone last week against Atletico, going close.
However Simeone’s side wrestled their way into the game and Mignolet denied Griezmann at the other end.
Saul Niguez had a goal ruled out for offside against Correa in the build-up, and the Argentine soon fired narrowly wide himself, as Atletico began to dominate the match all through to the final minute.
Brugge surprised Atletico and all the fans that were rooting for them last week at home with a 2-0 win and although they dropped their first points of the competition at the Metropolitano, still secured qualification for the knock-out rounds.
A Brugge player came down inside the penalty box but the VAR overturned the decision after Tajon Buchanan appeared to step on Nahuel Molina, rather than the reverse.
Correa struck shortly after the interval but he was offside too and the goal was canceled.
in the 82nd minute, Sowah was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and Brugge was left with ten men.
Atletico Madrid increased the pressure and had multiple shots in, but they could not convert any opportunity.
Atletico substitute Joao Felix threw his bib away angrily towards the end of the game when it became apparent Simeone was not planning to bring him on, as tempers frayed
