Club Bruges 0-0 Atletico Madrid: Visitors finish as Group A runners-up behind Borussia Dortmund after draw
- It ended honours even in Belgium as neither side could break the deadlock
- Result means Atletico Madrid finish as Group A runners-up with 13 points
- Club Bruges will now go into the Europa League after finishing third in the table
Atletico Madrid finished their Champions League group in second place after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at Belgian side Club Bruges on Tuesday.
Atletico entered the match leading Group A, but their stumble combined with Dortmund Borussia’s 2-0 victory at Monaco gave the German club the top spot.
Dortmund edged Atletico on goal difference after both finished with 13 points, while Club Bruges will join the Europa League after finishing with six points. Monaco earned just one point.
Antoine Griezmann endured a frustrating night as Atletico Madrid drew at Club Bruges
The Atletico Madrid talisman was unable to break the shackles of the Club Bruges defence
Koke (right) looks to get Atletico on the attack during the Champions League encounter
Atletico had a promising start with strikes by Thomas Partey and Antoine Griezmann, but the 2014 and 2016 finalist failed to threaten the hosts in the second half.
‘I leave with a good feeling, we have moved on, which is what we wanted to do, and now we need to try to improve,’ Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
‘We were missing our finishing touch because we had the chances.’
Bruges went close to pulling off the upset when Luan Peres arrived unmarked at the far post in the 74th minute, but goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved his header.
‘We showed to the world that a small club from a small nation like Belgium can battle with the big teams,’ said Bruges coach Ivan Leko.
‘Nil-nil against Griezmann, Saul, Koke and coach Simeone is a dream result for us.’
Atletico manager Diego Simeone is pleased his side have reached the knockout stages
Club Bruges boss Ivan Leko was proud of his side in managing to shut out the Spanish giants