Champions League | Misfiring Atletico held by Club Brugge, Liverpool thrash Rangers 7-1
The Hindu
Atletico Madrid were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw to Club Brugge, who advanced to the knockout rounds. Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Liverpool bounced back from a slump to beat Rangers 7-1
Belgian side Club Brugge reached the Champions League knockouts after a 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday guaranteed them a top-two spot in Group B.
After becoming the first Belgian side to win their opening three group games last week, Brugge reached the round of 16 in Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 1990-91, when it was known as the European Cup.
Atletico squandered a string of chances as they extended their winless streak in the competition to three games.
The Spanish side are second on four points, six behind the Belgians and one ahead Porto and Bayer Leverkusen, who have a game in hand and will play each other later on Wednesday.
Atletico now will face two must-win games against Leverkusen and Porto to stay alive in the competition.
Brugge were lively in the first half but ran out of steam after the break and then held on in the closing stages as Atletico tried in vain to open up the visitors, who had Kamal Sowah sent-off late on.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was named player of the match after he made a series of stops in the second half, including two close-range saves in added time to deny Alvaro Morata.