Club Brugge create history thanks to valiant goalless Atleti draw
The two sides came out showing plenty of attacking intent and traded chances in the opening period. Atletico thought they had taken the lead just shy of the 25-minute mark when some superb combination play down their right-hand side was capped off by Saul Niguez tapping the ball home from point-blank range.
However, the goal was chalked off due to an offside in the build-up.
In the final moments of the first half, a scintillating Brugge counterattack saw Tajon Buchanan taken down in the box by Nahuel Molina. Initially, the referee gave the Belgian side a penalty kick, but VAR astonishingly awarded a foul in the other direction, leaving the visitors dumbfounded and without the chance to break the deadlock before the break.
The second period did not provide quite the same level of drama, but that suited Club Brugge. Having won all three of their group games coming into the clash, a point away at Atletico Madrid would be another superb result.
It did get nervy for the visitors in the final 10 minutes when Kamal Sowah was given his marching orders following a second yellow card.
With a numerical advantage, Atleti had all the momentum, but Los Colchoneros’ forwards appeared to leave their shooting boots at home, failing to find what was necessary to beat Simon Mignolet between the visitors’ sticks.
That lack of ruthlessness will leave Diego Simeone bitterly disappointed as his side desperately needed three points from this encounter, and they are now in danger of missing out on qualification for the next round.
Luckily for the side from the Spanish capital, they can still rescue themselves in the final two group games, although they could well require two victories to progress.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge)