Atlético will play Club Brugge in Champions League play-off tie

SB Nation

Atlético de Madrid will meet a familiar opponent in the UEFA Champions League’s knockout phase play-off draw.

The draw in Switzerland on Friday could have pitted Atlético against Galatasaray or Club Brugge,

and Atleti will be playing the 19-time Belgian champions next month for a spot in the round of 16.

The first leg will be played at Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges on Feb. 17 or 18. Atleti will host the second leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Feb. 24 or 25.

Atlético have squared off against Club Brugge four times in the Diego Simeone era, but the Rojiblancos have managed just one win: a 3-1 victory at the Metropolitano in the 2018/19 group stage. Atleti’s previous visit to Jan Breydelstadion was a 2-0 loss during the 2022/23 group stage.

If Atleti advance, they are guaranteed to face an English side in the round of 16. The winner of this tie will play Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the next round.

Atleti finished the league phase campaign in 14th place after drawing at Galatasaray and losing at home to Bodø/Glimt. The 2-1 loss to Bodø on Wednesday laid bare the tension between Simeone and the Atleti front office, helmed presently by Mateu Alemany and Miguel Ángel Gil; the coach continues to ask for signings, but the club is not close to sealing a deal for any player, just three days before the January window slams shut.

Brugge ended the league phase in 19th position and won their final two games against Kairat Almaty and Olympique Marseille to qualify. They are the top scorers in the Belgian Pro League, in which they sit two points behind Union Saint-Gilloise for top spot.