Club Brugge vs Atleti Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, quotes
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form and quotes for this Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg.
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Club Brugge host Atleti in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first legs on 18 February.
Match at a glance
When: Wednesday 18 February (21:00 CET)
Where: Jan Breydelstadion, Bruges
What: UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg
Who: The 1978 runners-up against the three-time finalists
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here
Where to watch the game on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
What you need to know?
Club Brugge emerged 2-0 victors when Atleti last travelled to Jan Breydelstadion in October 2022 and have never lost at home against the Spanish team in UEFA competition, a run of four matches that stretches back to 1978.
The Belgian side will be hopeful of extending that streak after a strong home showing in the league phase, winning twice, drawing once (a 3-3 thriller against Barcelona) and only losing against table-toppers Arsenal. For their part, Atleti might draw confidence from the 3-1 victory they managed against Belgian outfit Union SG on Matchday 4.
Possible line-ups
Club Brugge: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordoñez, Mechele, Seys; Stanković, Vanaken, Onyedika; Carlos Forbs, Vermant, Tzolis
Atleti: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Cardoso, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez
Form guide
Club Brugge
Form: WWLWWW (all competitions, most recent first)
Latest: Cercle Brugge 1-2 Club Brugge, 15/02, Belgian First League
Atleti
Form: LWLWDL
Latest: Rayo Vallecano 3-0 Atleti, 15/02, Spanish La Liga
Views from the camps
Ivan Leko, Club Brugge coach: "[Atlético are] coming to Bruges to win. This is the Champions League. We're a small team by their standards. Everyone knows who the favourites are: they'll be at their best. We respect Atlético; we know their qualities and strengths, but also their weaknesses. My team will have to be brave in every area, but don't expect any major changes to our formation. Will we play for a draw? That's not a good result. We just want to win."
Diego Simeone, Atleti coach: "We know the characteristics of the players who play for Brugge. They have a strong mentality, especially when they play at home, in their own environment. They play with speed and lots of young players. [They] had important home results [in the league phase] against Monaco, Marseille, Barça; they're young but with experience, they're very quick in the final third. It will be a tough, difficult game but we hope to take it where we think we can hurt them."
Reporter's view
Brecht Schelstraete, match reporter
Club Brugge will approach this first leg with their trademark intensity and attacking drive. The Belgian hopefuls perform well at home, losing only three of their last 21 home games in Europe, and will begin with confidence after beating Marseille 3-0 in their most recent league phase outing. For their part, Atleti failed to win their last two league phase matches but previously downed Frankfurt, Union SG, Inter and PSV, with Julián Alvarez scoring in every victory. Indeed, the three-time runners-up have struck first in four of their last five Champions League games and will take inspiration from defeating Belgian side Union SG 3-1 on Matchday 4.