Atlético Madrid beat Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1 to revive Champions League hopes
Atlético Madrid kept their perfect home record in this season’s UEFA Champions League intact with a 3-1 victory over Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, ending a short run of poor results and reigniting their push for qualification.
The Belgian champions made a lively start in their first-ever meeting with Atlético. Within minutes, Rob Schoofs went close with a powerful effort and Jan Oblak almost gifted them an opener after misjudging a backpass. Union’s pace and pressing troubled Diego Simeone’s side early on, and Kevin Rodríguez should have done better when he failed to turn in Anan Khalaili’s cross midway through the half.
Atlético eventually grew into the game and began to find their rhythm. Julián Álvarez tested goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen with a shot from distance before providing a perfect cross for José María Giménez, who headed narrowly wide. Six minutes before the break, the breakthrough finally came. Pablo Barrios sprinted down the right and cut the ball back for Álvarez, who smashed a clinical finish into the bottom corner for his second goal of the competition.
Antoine Griezmann thought he had doubled the lead in stoppage time, converting a rebound, but VAR ruled it out for offside in the build-up. Atlético carried their momentum into the second half, continuing to create chances. Giuliano Simeone almost scored with a driven cross-shot, and Matteo Ruggeri’s deflected strike went inches over the bar as the hosts kept pressing.
Their persistence paid off when Alexander Sørloth’s determined run caused chaos in the box, and after his effort was blocked twice, Conor Gallagher pounced on the rebound to make it 2-0. Union, however, refused to give up. Seven minutes later, Sofiane Boufal’s curling free-kick was met by Ross Sykes at the far post, pulling one back to give the visitors hope.
Atlético sealed the result deep into stoppage time when Marcos Llorente broke clear and finished calmly one-on-one to confirm a vital win for the Spanish side. The three points move Simeone’s men up to six in Group E, while Union remain on three, having lost three consecutive matches since their opening-day victory.
