Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Jan Breydelstadion will be the stage for a compelling Champions League playoff first leg on Wednesday night, as Club Brugge welcome an Atlético Madrid side desperate to rekindle their continental fire. Diego Simeone’s men have not reached the semi-finals since 2016-17 and, after early exits in each of the last two editions, view this tie as a crossroads between redemption and further decline.

The Spaniards’ erratic form has eroded the air of inevitability that once surrounded them in Europe, yet Simeone remains a master of knockout pragmatism. A conservative start in Flanders could backfire, however, because Brugge have already proved they can topple bigger names: they ousted Atalanta at this juncture last term and sealed their place in the playoffs by dismantling Marseille 3-0 on the final day of the league phase.

Ivan Leko, appointed after the club parted ways with Nicky Hayen in late 2025, has kept the defensive steel installed by his predecessor while adding attacking thrust. Captain Hans Vanaken sits at the heart of the operation, though a booking would trigger a suspension for the return leg in Madrid. Around him, Raphael Onyedika and highly-rated teenager Aleksandar Stanković provide ballast, while Carlos Forbs—who tormented Barcelona in November—will look to stretch Atlético’s full-backs. Romeo Vermant has nailed down the No. 9 role under Leko and will lead the line.

Club Brugge predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordóñez, Mechele, Seys; Stanković, Onyedika; Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis; Vermant.

Atlético travel without Pablo Barrios (thigh) and possibly Nico González (muscle), but the winter window has already deepened Simeone’s hand. Johnny Cardoso, the United States international, is expected to partner club stalwart Koke in midfield, while Ademola Lookman—eliminated by Brugge with Atalanta twelve months ago—will make his Champions League debut for the Rojiblancos after a bright domestic start. Antoine Griezmann, Julián Álvarez and Marcos Llorente return to the XI after being rested at the weekend.

Atlético Madrid predicted lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Cardoso, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Álvarez.

The tactical plot is clear: Brugge will press in numbers and flood the flanks, forcing Atlético’s ageing spine to defend transitions; the visitors, wary of conceding an away goal, will likely sit on a one-goal mindset and trust Griezmann’s ingenuity to nick a precious strike. A cagey opening 45 minutes feels probable, yet an early goal would tilt the tie toward the underdogs and ratchet the pressure on Simeone’s men to respond in front of their own fans next week.

Prediction: Club Brugge 1-1 Atlético Madrid. A tight contest ends honours even, leaving everything on a knife-edge ahead of the second leg in the Spanish capital.