In a thrilling Champions League playoff opener, Diego Simeone’s side failed to hold onto two separate leads, ultimately settling for a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge.
The high-scoring stalemate leaves both teams on equal footing for the second leg.
The Spanish outfit stormed into a commanding 2-0 position by half-time, only for the Belgian hosts to battle back and restore parity.
An own-goal error from Brugge then restored Atletico’s lead, yet Greek attacker Christos Tzolis struck in the 90th minute to snatch a share of the spoils for the home side.
Still without a Champions League crown to their name after all these years, Atletico sit far adrift in the La Liga table and now regard knockout tournaments as their most realistic path to silverware in the current campaign.
Sloppy defensive work throughout the contest means the Madrid club must now travel back to Belgium next Tuesday for the return fixture with a last-16 spot very much still up for grabs.
“We held a two-goal cushion but failed to protect it,” Atletico captain Koke admitted afterwards when speaking to Movistar.
“The match resembled a wild ride, mirroring our entire season so far. Greater focus is essential moving forward.”
Julian Alvarez opened the scoring from the penalty spot inside the opening stages after Brugge defender Joaquin Seys carelessly handled the ball inside his own area.
The Argentine striker, who suffered a controversial double-touch ruling on a spot-kick against Real Madrid last season that contributed to Atletico’s elimination, drove the ball home with real conviction.
For the remainder of the first half Club Brugge dictated much of the play, with Mamadou Diakhon firing a shot just past the post and goalkeeper Jan Oblak making a smart stop to keep out an effort from Raphael Onyedika.
Despite the pressure, the visitors somehow went in at the break holding a two-goal advantage.
That second strike came when Ademola Lookman, impressive since his January arrival, tapped in from close range after Antoine Griezmann cleverly flicked on a corner delivered by Alvarez.
Brugge pulled one back in the 52nd minute when Onyedika reacted quickest to slot home the rebound following a brilliant save by Oblak to deny Nicolo Tresoldi’s powerful header.
On the hour mark Tresoldi turned provider into scorer, clinically finishing a low cross from Diakhon to send the Jan Breydel Stadium into raptures and level the contest at 2-2.
Alexander Sorloth almost restored Atletico’s lead moments later but could only glance a header narrowly wide.
The visitors regained the advantage when Brugge defender Joel Ordonez turned the ball into his own net under pressure.
In the dying seconds, however, Tzolis raced clear down the left channel, finished smartly past the goalkeeper and saw his effort initially ruled out for offside before VAR stepped in to correctly award the goal, confirming the final 3-3 scoreline.
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