UEFA Champions League League Stage - 4
Atletico Madrid 3 - 1 FT Union St. Gilloise
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
26' ↓ R. Le Normand ↑J. M. Gimenez
39' J. Alvarez (G. Simeone)
45'+3 Antoine Griezmann
HT
↓ R. Schoofs ↑P. David 60'
62' ↓ A. Baena ↑C. Gallagher
62' ↓ A. Griezmann ↑A. Sorloth
62' ↓ Koke ↑T. Almada
Ousseynou Niang 66'
68' Nahuel Molina
72' C. Gallagher
↓ K. Van De Perre ↑M. Rasmussen 74'
↓ K. Rodriguez ↑M. Giger 74'
↓ A. Ait El Hadj ↑S. Boufal 74'
R. Sykes (S. Boufal) 80'
↓ A. Khalaili ↑L. Patris 85'
88' ↓ G. Simeone ↑M. Llorente
90' M. Llorente (T. Almada)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Atletico Madrid
Goalkeepers
J. Oblak 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
N. Molina 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Le Normand
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
26
Entry
D. Hancko 
MAGNET
92
Activity
92
Activity
83
Passes
9
Duels
M. Ruggeri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
G. Simeone 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.7
Rating
P. Barrios
MAGNET
93
Activity
93
Activity
81
Passes
12
Duels
Koke
MAGNET
76
Activity
76
Activity
68
Passes
8
Duels
A. Baena
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Forwards
A. Griezmann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
J. Alvarez 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.9
Rating
BENCH
S. Esquivel 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. M. Gimenez 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
C. Lenglet
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Pubill
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Galan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Gallagher 
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
28
Minutes
7.6
Rating
J. Cardoso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Almada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Llorente 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7
Rating
A. Sorloth
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Raspadori
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Martin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Union St. Gilloise
Goalkeepers
K. Scherpen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
K. Mac Allister 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
35%
Pass Acc
C. Burgess
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Sykes 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Midfielders
A. Khalaili 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
8
Duels Won
80%
Win %
A. Zorgane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Van De Perre
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
R. Schoofs
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
60
Total Mins
60
Entry
O. Niang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
A. Ait El Hadj
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
K. Rodriguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
BENCH
V. Chambaere
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. T. Barry
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Patris
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
F. Leysen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Rasmussen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Guilherme Smith
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. David
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Giger
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Boufal
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
16
Minutes
7.2
Rating
R. Florucz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +10
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +9
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 4 GD: +6
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -6
P: 4 GD: -7
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -9
P: 4 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Atlético Madrid Edges Past Union St. Gilloise in Chaotic Champions League Encounter
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 55/100. This was a match where dominance met defiance—Atlético controlled the narrative but Union St. Gilloise refused to surrender, turning what should have been a rout into a genuine test of nerve at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Álvarez Breaks the Deadlock as Atlético Assert Early Control
Atlético Madrid arrived in Riyadh intent on imposing their will, and Julián Álvarez delivered the opening statement in the 39th minute. The Argentine's clinical finish, set up by Giménez, gave Los Colchoneros the foothold they craved. Yet the intensity of the opening period masked what would become a fractured second half. With 67% possession and 14 shots, Atlético's superiority on the pitch was undeniable, but Union St. Gilloise's goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen emerged as an unlikely hero—his three crucial saves kept the visitors within striking distance when they could have been buried.
VAR Denies Griezmann, Then Gallagher Delivers the Knockout
Just as Atlético seemed poised to extend their advantage before halftime, Antoine Griezmann's 45th-minute goal was erased by VAR—a cruel blow that shifted the psychological balance. The intervention proved pivotal. Rather than heading into the break with a two-goal cushion, Atlético faced a resurgent Union St. Gilloise. The second half exploded into life when Conor Gallagher, introduced from the bench, crashed home in the 72nd minute to restore breathing room. By the 90th minute, Marcos Llorente's finish sealed the result, but not before R. Sykes had pulled one back in the 80th, courtesy of Sofiane Boufal's assist, to remind everyone that stakes remained alive.
Union St. Gilloise's Resistance Fades but Leaves Mark
Union St. Gilloise's defensive discipline—13 fouls and three yellow cards—told the story of a team fighting for survival. They mustered just eight shots and 33% possession, yet their willingness to engage in a physical battle earned respect. Upset factor flickered briefly when Sykes' goal made it 3-1, but Atlético's experience and superior technical execution proved decisive. The Riyadh Air Metropolitano witnessed a controlled demolition dressed up as a contest: Atlético's 89% pass accuracy and xG of 2.30 versus Union's 1.11 confirmed the gulf in class. Three points secured, but the VAR controversy and late jitters suggest Atlético's Champions League campaign remains a work in progress.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
Griezmann's disallowed goal in the 45th minute denied Atlético a two-goal halftime lead, psychologically boosting Union and forcing a tighter second half than the stats suggest.
Who was Union St. Gilloise's standout player?
Scherpen's three saves kept Union competitive despite relentless Atlético pressure, proving crucial to their survival until the final whistle.
What does this result mean for Atlético's campaign?
Three points move Atlético to 9 points (4 games), but defensive lapses and VAR drama suggest their European ambitions face stiffer tests ahead.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Survival Stakes at the Metropolitano
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 24/100. Atletico Madrid looks to cement a direct path to the knockouts, while Union St. Gilloise must avoid a fourth defeat in five to keep their European dream alive.
The Setup
As we reach the heart of the league stage on November 04, 2025, the gap between the elite and the chasing pack is widening. Atletico Madrid enters this fixture sitting in 8th place, currently holding the final spot for direct qualification to the Round of 16. Their Form has been largely impressive, securing four wins from six matches, though a recent slip-up shows they aren't invincible. Conversely, Union St. Gilloise finds themselves in 27th, languishing below the playoff line. For the Belgian visitors, the Stakes couldn't be higher; they are effectively fighting for their lives in this competition after a string of three losses in their last four outings. The atmosphere at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano will be tense as both sides look to stabilize their continental Balance.
Key Battle
The match will likely be decided by the interaction between Atletico’s clinical home midfield and Union’s fragmented defensive unit. Without individual Stars dominating the narrative, the collective discipline of the Spanish side should overwhelm a visiting backline that has conceded 15 goals already this season. Union St. Gilloise will need to find a way to disrupt the rhythm of the home side's passing lanes, or they risk being picked apart by a team that thrives on territorial control.
Our Prediction
Expect Atletico Madrid to dictate the tempo from the opening whistle. The home side’s tactical superiority and European experience should allow them to break down a stubborn, yet vulnerable, Union defense. While the visitors may attempt to play on the counter, the lack of quality in their final third suggests a scoreless night for the Belgians. A professional 2-0 victory for the hosts seems the most plausible outcome, keeping them firmly in the top-8 conversation.