"The last time Diego Simeone lined up an Atlético Madrid side in the Champions League, he was in touching distance of that coveted top-eight finish which would have earned his club a succulent €18.2 million bonus and saved them two deeply unwelcome and risky extra knockout matches. Exactly three weeks later, when the Argentine coach lines Atleti up against Club Brugge on Wednesday for the first leg of their playoff to reach to round of 16,"
"Worse, the embodiment of that embarrassment was one of their most humiliating European performances, losing 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt in Madrid. Had they beaten the novice Norwegians 4-0, Atleti would have finished in the top eight and barged Pep Guardiola's Manchester City off the high table in the process. It would have been a huge boost; invaluable to club coffers and allowed vital respite for tired players."
Atlético Madrid narrowly missed a top-eight Champions League finish that would have delivered a €18.2 million bonus and avoided extra knockout matches. The club has struggled in 2026 with only two wins from six LaLiga matches and three consecutive games without scoring, including defeats or draws versus relegation teams, leaving them 15 points behind Real Madrid. Atlético managed only one point from six in the Champions League, capped by a humiliating 2-1 loss to Bodø/Glimt in Madrid. A 4-0 win there would have secured top-eight status and financial respite. The team recorded Copa del Rey victories of 5-0 and 4-0, but faces a crucial playoff first leg against Club Brugge that increases pressure on Diego Simeone.
Read at ESPN.com
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