United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso described his Tuesday night as “perfect” after netting a goal in Atlético Madrid‘s 4-1 victory against Club Brugge in the second leg of their Champions League playoff, helping the LaLiga team advance to the round of 16.
Cardoso’s goal in the 48th minute, a stunning shot from outside the box, put Atlético ahead 2-1 at the Metropolitano Stadium, and forward Alexander Sørloth later completed his hat trick to secure a 7-4 aggregate win for the home team.
This season has been challenging for Cardoso, who joined Atlético from Real Betis in July 2025. He has only played 203 minutes in the Champions League due to injuries.
His goal on Tuesday marked his first for Atlético. “I always dreamed about nights like this,” he stated to Movistar. “Playing in the Champions League at home with these fans, scoring a goal, and getting the win—it was perfect.”
After suffering an ankle injury in September that sidelined him for six weeks, Cardoso has struggled to secure a consistent position in the midfield. “I feel good,” he said. “Although I had some injury issues at the start, I’ve never had many before. It wasn’t the beginning I hoped for, but I know what I can offer to the team. Now I feel confident, and I have the support of the staff and my teammates.”
Atlético has experienced an up-and-down 2025-26 season, achieving notable victories, including a 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey earlier this month, but they currently trail by 13 points in the LaLiga standings.
Next week, they will face Barcelona in the second leg of the cup semifinal, while in the Champions League round of 16, they are set to meet either Tottenham or Liverpool in the upcoming draw.