Under the glittering floodlights of Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Atlético Madrid and Club Brugge treated fans to a six‑goal spectacle in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout tie, and at the heart of the action was Ademola Lookman, who left his mark with a composed, game-defining strike.
The night kicked off perfectly for the Spanish side. In just the 8th minute, Julián Álvarez calmly converted a VAR-awarded penalty after a handball, giving Atlético an early foothold. The visitors held steady, until Lookman announced his arrival unforgettably.
As first-half stoppage time approached, Antoine Griezmann swung in a clever corner, and Lookman reacted instantly at the back post, slotting home from close range to make it 2‑0. For the Nigerian forward, it was a milestone: his first Champions League goal for Atlético and a memorable moment in his European journey.
But Brugge refused to lie down. The second half erupted with energy as Raphael Onyedika ignited a comeback in the 51st minute, pouncing on a rebound to pull one back. Just eight minutes later, Nicolo Tresoldi capitalized on a low cross to level the game at 2‑2, sending the stadium into a frenzy.
Atlético reclaimed a slender lead in the 79th minute — only for the drama to spike in the closing moments. Joel Ordóñez inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, giving Brugge hope, and then, in the 89th minute, Christos Tzolis latched onto a pinpoint pass to complete the Belgian side’s stunning turnaround, confirmed after a VAR review. The final whistle blew at 3‑3, leaving the tie wide open ahead of the second leg in Madrid.
For Lookman, it was a night to remember: a personal triumph on one of European football’s grandest stages. For fans, it was a rollercoaster of goals, drama, and suspense — and a Champions League showdown that promises an electrifying second leg.
