Seattle Sounders vs Atlético Madrid
Emerald City. All of Seattle, and the rest of the country, tuned in for this one. After Messi’s miraculous performance to help Miami beat Porto, hopes were through the roof. Seeing two different MLS teams beat European opponents in one afternoon would’ve been too much. And it was. The Sounders put on a valiant performance against Atlético Madrid, but ultimately, Los Colchoneros managed a swift victory that puts them back into the mix of things in Group B. Despite the loss, it was an unforgettable evening for everyone in Seattle. Facing a rival of Atlético’s stature is something that the Sounders faithful will always remember, and it was an honor to shoot such a historic occasion—no matter the result.
Photography by: Lorena Barros
The Seattle Sounders' FIFA Club World Cup journey took a decisive blow on Thursday as they fell 3-1 to Spanish giants Atlético Madrid at Lumen Field. A brace from 22-year-old midfielder Pablo Barrios and a second-half header from Axel Witsel secured the victory for Atlético, while Albert Rusnák netted Seattle’s lone goal.
The result leaves Seattle winless in Group B after an opening 2-1 loss to Brazil’s Botafogo, all but extinguishing their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.
Atlético Madrid came out firing, showcasing their trademark intensity under legendary manager Diego Simeone. Their efforts were rewarded in the 11th minute when Barrios struck a thunderous shot from the edge of the box. Giuliano Simeone’s clever cutback set up Barrios, whose effort rattled the crossbar before crossing the line to give Atlético the early lead.
The Spanish side dominated the first half, with chances coming from Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth, but Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei kept the deficit manageable with several key saves.
Seattle created opportunities of their own but struggled to convert. Danny Musovski had a close-range shot denied by Atlético keeper Jan Oblak, and Cristian Roldan saw a powerful volley blocked by Koke.
The second half began with a bang. In the 47th minute, Atlético doubled their lead when Frei parried Marcos Llorente’s blistering shot onto the crossbar, only for Witsel to head in the rebound.
Seattle responded just three minutes later. Obed Vargas delivered a pinpoint cross to Musovski, whose header set up Rusnák for a composed one-time finish, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
However, the momentum was short-lived. In the 55th minute, Barrios struck again, taking advantage of Seattle’s inability to clear a long throw-in. With precision, he calmly slotted the ball past Frei, restoring Atlético’s two-goal cushion and putting the match out of reach.
Despite the loss, Seattle can take pride in their effort against one of Europe’s elite teams. The Sounders held their own in stretches, creating 16 shots compared to Atlético’s 15. Still, defensive lapses and missed opportunities proved costly.
"The goals we conceded were preventable," said midfielder Obed Vargas. "We made mistakes, and they capitalized. These games are decided by those moments."
Rusnák was a standout for Seattle, notching his second goal of the tournament and completing 92% of his passes. "I think we competed well," he said. "But against teams like Atlético, every mistake is punished."
Seattle faces UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Monday in their final Group B match. While the Sounders are mathematically out of contention, the match offers another chance to test themselves against the world’s best.
For Atlético, the win keeps their hopes alive as they prepare for a critical clash against Botafogo, who sit atop the group.
As the Club World Cup progresses, Seattle’s campaign serves as a reminder of the narrow margins at the highest levels of soccer—a lesson they’ll carry back to their domestic season.
