Atletico Madrid edge past Union Saint-Gilloise

Atletico Madrid returned to winning ways in the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise.

Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher put Atletico in charge before former Accrington defender Ross Sykes pulled one back for the Belgian visitors to set up a nervy last 10 minutes.

But Marcos Llorente’s stoppage-time strike secured a second win from four games in the league phase for Diego Simeone’s side, who were thrashed 4-0 by Arsenal in their last outing in the competition.

Kevin Rodriguez poked an effort wide as Union threatened a surprise opener but Atletico went ahead after 39 minutes through Alvarez’s ninth goal of the season.

Giuliano Simeone broke down the right and cut into the box before playing into Alvarez, who fired through the legs of goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.

The hosts thought they had doubled their lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage-time when Antoine Griezmann tapped home a rebound from Koke’s strike, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

Union had a brilliant chance to level when Anouar Ait El Hadj’s free-kick was nodded down into the centre of the box, where Promise David skewed his shot just wide of the upright.

Atletico then doubled their lead in the 72nd minute with another quick break down the right from Alexander Sorloth, who had two attempts before Gallagher latched on to the ball and smashed into the top corner.

Union pulled one back eight minutes later when Sykes headed home at the back post from Sofiane Boufal’s cross.

But Llorente sealed victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time with a powerful strike.