Atlético Madrid Bounce Back with 3–1 Victory over Seattle Sounders

Atlético Madrid delivered a commanding performance to claim a 3–1 victory over the Seattle Sounders in their second Group B match of the FIFA Club World Cup. This crucial win revitalises their tournament prospects following a challenging 4–0 loss to Paris Saint‑Germain in their opening fixture.

The early breakthrough came in the 11th minute when midfielder Pablo Barrios capitalised on a precise assist from Rodrigo Simeone. Barrios’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line—his first professional goal.

Early in the second half, substitute Axel Witsel doubled the advantage. The Belgian midfielder rose to head in a rebound off a powerful shot from Marcos Llorente.

Seattle briefly reignited hope just before the hour mark, when Albert Rusnák capitalised on a defensive error to pull one back. However, Barrios swiftly extinguished their hopes by completing his brace five minutes later, sealing the result.

This comprehensive display highlighted Atlético’s determination and marked a significant turnaround in form since their heavy defeat to PSG.

The goals came as follows:

– 11′: Barrios opened the scoring with a powerful strike off the crossbar.

– 47′: Witsel made it 2–0 with a well-placed header.

– 50′: Rusnák reduced the deficit to 2–1 after a defensive lapse.

– 55′: Barrios struck again to secure the 3–1 win.

With this win, Atlético stands at three points in Group B, level with PSG and Botafogo, and keeps alive their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage. Their next fixture is against Botafogo—a pivotal clash that will decide who progresses.