Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge KV served up a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return meeting in Spain. The result means Atlético are still searching for a first-ever away win against the Blauw-Zwart after five attempts (D2, L3).

Diego Simeone’s side had reason for caution in Belgium, with Brugge having lost just three of their previous 21 European home matches. Atlético had also failed to score in the last three head-to-heads between the sides, but that drought ended after just seven minutes. Joaquin Seys was penalised for handball following a VAR review, and Julián Álvarez calmly dispatched the resulting penalty beyond a statuesque Simon Mignolet.

The hosts responded positively, forcing Jan Oblak into action as he pushed away Nicolò Tresoldi’s speculative long-range effort during a spell of sustained pressure. Oblak was at it again moments later to deny Raphael Onyedika, yet Atlético struck again in first-half stoppage time. Antoine Griezmann flicked on Marcos Llorente’s corner, and Ademola Lookman bundled home from close range to give the visitors a 2-0 lead that scarcely reflected Brugge’s efforts.

The Belgian champions halved the deficit seven minutes after the restart. After Oblak produced a superb save to keep out Tresoldi’s header, Onyedika reacted quickest to the loose ball and poked home from close range.

Momentum had firmly shifted, and Brugge completed a stunning turnaround just past the hour mark when Tresoldi stretched to divert Mamadou Diakhon’s cross beyond Oblak. Simeone responded by introducing Alexander Sørloth, who nearly made an immediate impact as his header from Koke’s inviting delivery clipped the crossbar.

Sørloth’s presence unsettled the home defence, and Atlético regained the lead when Joel Ordóñez, under pressure from the Norwegian, inadvertently turned Llorente’s cross into his own net.

However, Brugge refused to be denied. With the tie swinging wildly, Christos Tzolis produced a superb angled finish to level the scores once more, ensuring the aggregate remains all square heading into next week’s second leg in Madrid.

The result extends Brugge’s unbeaten run against Spanish opposition to six matches (W2, D4), while Atlético — who have won just one of their last five away games in all competitions — will feel they missed a chance to take full control of the tie.