In the Zone: How Alexander Sørloth shone for Atlético de Madrid
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
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UEFA Technical Observer Aitor Karanka analyses Alexander Sørloth's performance in Atleti's 4-1 win against Club Brugge in their UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg.
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Good things, they say, come to those who wait. That was the case last night for Atlético de Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth who, at the age of 30, claimed his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick.
He did so, moreover, with a "complete" performance according to UEFA Technical Observer Aitor Karanka, who hailed the big Norwegian's all-round contribution to Atleti's 4-1 knockout phase play-off second-leg triumph against Club Brugge, describing him as not just a goalscorer but "a player who works well up top, holds the ball up, runs in behind and helps to make the play".
As will be shown in the following analysis, brought to you by FedEx, Sørloth's goals showcased that variety in his game.
"The three goals were a reflection of the work he did," explained Karanka. "He held the ball up very well. For the first goal, direct from the goalkeeper, it's the way he holds off the defender and scores a goal. Every time they played direct to him, he held onto the ball to then bring his team-mates into the game. And then you had his movements into space, like for the second goal."
"He gives you solutions when the team are perhaps a bit deep"
If at first you don't succeed …
As seen in the video above, Sørloth's first goal had the exact same source – a long ball forward by goalkeeper Jan Oblak – as a late chance he had had in the first leg, and it was the product of a conversation between the pair. As Sørloth explained to Movistar+: "We actually spoke about it before the game: 'If I'm one against one, kick it long because then I'm going to create a chance,' so it was good to see it go in."
If that goal, marked by his powerful hold-up play, delighted Sørloth because it recalled "my idol Didier Drogba, who used to score many goals like this", his second strike showcased his ability to run behind as well as to find space in the box.
"We're so deadly on counterattacks," was Sørloth's own verdict on the second goal, featured in the second video along with his hat-trick effort.
As a final detail on his Player of the Match display, Karanka added: "Atlético without the ball had five defenders a lot of the time and that meant when they won the ball, they lacked bodies higher up the pitch and so they looked for Sørloth." In him, they found a safe harbour for the ball – so safe, in fact, that he ended up taking it home at the end of the night.
A La Liga and Champions League winner with Real Madrid between two spells at Athletic Club, defender Karanka became Spain's Under-16 coach after hanging up his boots, and has since occupied the hot seat at Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham, Granada and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
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