Club Brugge take on the visitors Atletico Madrid in the first leg of UEFA Champions League round of 1/16-finals. The match will be played on Wednesday, February 18th at Jan Breydel Stadion (Brugge).
Club Brugge have rightly been considered the main powerhouse of Belgian football in recent years, its flagship club. Even the emergence of a bold new challenger in Union did not change the final outcome at first, as Brugge managed to overtake them and secure the title. However, last spring the roles were reversed, and the championship was lost. Yes, there was a kind of summer compensation in the form of a Super Cup victory, but it is far from certain that they will succeed in the Pro League as well, especially with Saint-Truiden showing unusual persistence in the title race. In the Champions League, the Belgians have achieved success, albeit with some reservations. They came through qualification with a series of wins, dealing with Red Bull Salzburg and Rangers Glasgow, and started the main round with a 4–1 win over Monaco. After that, they added only one point in the next five rounds, though that included a dramatic 3–3 draw with Barcelona, whom they kept under constant pressure. Fortunately, in January they regrouped and beat not only Kairat but also a direct competitor, Marseille, with a convincing 3–0 scoreline. Overall, Brugge have looked much more confident at home in recent weeks, where results have been notably stronger. Their recent form suggests they are capable of raising their level in decisive matches.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Atlético Madrid will try to succeed at least here. The “Rojiblancos” are currently unable to compete domestically with Real Madrid and Barcelona. Moreover, they have had to fight against surprise contenders like Girona in 2023/2024 or Villarreal this season just to stay in third place, and that has not always worked out. In this campaign, the club exited the Super Cup early and is already trailing the league leader by double-digit points in La Liga. That makes success in the Champions League, with its knockout format, even more important. In the main round, there were no serious problems, as everything was settled back in 2025 with four wins and two defeats. As a result, they did not push too hard in January, settling for a draw with Galatasaray in Istanbul before unexpectedly losing at home to Bodø/Glimt. Still, Atlético have generally been more stable in European competition than in domestic play. Their recent results indicate a team that knows how to manage ties over two legs.
So far, there is complete balance: two wins, two draws, and two losses across six matches. It is time for the visitors’ class and experience to make the difference. We will take the risk and back Atlético Madrid to win away from home.
Prediction for the match: Atletico Madrid to win.
