Norwegian who scored three goals led Madrid's Atletico to the Champions League Round of 16
A Norwegian player scored three goals, helping Atletico Madrid secure a place in the Champions League Round of 16 with an overall series result of 7-4 against a Belgian team.
Atletico Madrid advanced to the Champions League Round of 16 after a decisive 7-4 victory over their Belgian opponents. The match showcased a thrilling performance, particularly from Norwegian forward Alexander Sørloth, who scored twice in the second leg. The game's momentum shifted several times, with both teams trading goals in an action-packed first half. In the first half, the home team took the lead early when Sørloth capitalized on a defensive error by the Belgian goalkeeper, putting Atletico ahead. However, the Belgians equalized shortly after with a header from Javier Ordonez, who had previously scored an own goal in the first leg of the matchup, adding drama to the encounter as he was also seen dealing with an injury during the match. The turning point came in the second half when Atletico quickly regained control, with American player J. Cardoso scoring from 18 meters to give them a 2-1 lead. Sørloth then sealed the victory with a powerful finish, marking a standout performance that not only propelled his team into the next round but also underscored the resilience and skill of Atletico Madrid in high-stakes playoff football.