Sorloth hat-trick secures Atletico Madrid’s spot in UCL round of 16

Alexander Sorloth scored his first Champions League hat-trick to help Atletico Madrid defeat a resilient Club Brugge 4-1 and set up a last-16 tie with either Tottenham or Liverpool.

The Norway striker opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, collecting a long ball from goalkeeper Jan Oblak, and his half-volley squirmed past Simon Mignolet.

But Brugge levelled 13 minutes later when Joel Ordonez – who scored an own goal in the first-leg draw that ended 3-3 – headed in from a corner.

With the tie in the balance, United States international Johnny Cardoso struck three minutes into the second half, putting Atletico 5-4 ahead on aggregate.

Sorloth then added gloss to the La Liga side’s performance with two more goals in the final 14 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano, completing his hat-trick and securing a meeting with Premier League opposition in the next round.

Starting in place of Antoine Griezmann, Sorloth showed excellent control when picked out by Oblak and caught Mignolet off guard with a precise shot from inside the area.

Brugge, however, refused to be overawed, levelling nine minutes before halftime when Brandon Mechele flicked a corner on at the near post for Ordonez to head home, making amends for his own goal in the first leg.

Atletico stepped up after the break, with midfielder Cardoso scoring his first goal for the club with a rasping volley from outside the box.

In-form Sorloth, who had scored twice against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, completed his Champions League hat-trick with two confident finishes in the final 14 minutes, ending Atletico’s three-game winless run in Europe.