Atletico Madrid reignited their campaign in the FIFA Club World Cup with a much-needed 3-1 victory over Seattle Sounders. The Spaniards bounced back in style after a heavy loss to Paris Saint-Germain, keeping their knockout hopes alive. Meanwhile, Seattle Sounders were officially eliminated from the competition after suffering their third consecutive home defeat — a run not seen since March 2011.
Here are the match details for the Club World Cup Group B encounter between Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders:
- Tournament: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
- Fixture: Atletico Madrid vs Seattle Sounders Club World Cup
- Date: June 19, 2025
- Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
- Result: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Seattle Sounders
- Atletico Goal Scorers: Pablo Barrios (2 goals), Axel Witsel (1 goal)
- Seattle Goal Scorer: Albert Rusnak
- Key Moment: VAR overturned penalty for Atletico; late Ferreira goal disallowed for offside
- Group: Group B
- Next Fixtures: Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo; Seattle Sounders vs Paris Saint-Germain
Barrios and Witsel Lead Atletico’s Dominant Display
Atletico Madrid vs Seattle Sounders Club World Cup started with urgency from the La Liga side. Looking to bounce back from a disappointing 4-0 loss to PSG, Atletico pushed forward early. Within minutes, chances fell to Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez. Their attacking momentum paid off as Pablo Barrios opened the scoring with a spectacular first-time strike that clipped the underside of the crossbar.
Sorloth missed a clear-cut chance to extend the lead, and Seattle Sounders nearly punished the Spaniards as Danny Musovski forced Jan Oblak into a vital save. The game saw end-to-end action in the opening 20 minutes, making it one of the most exciting fixtures in the Atletico Madrid vs Seattle Sounders Club World Cup narrative.
Sorloth’s frustrations grew, with Stefan Frei denying him in a one-on-one just before halftime. Seattle briefly thought they had conceded a penalty when Reed Baker-Whiting challenged Giuliano Simeone, but VAR intervened and ruled no foul had occurred — a controversial moment that saw a drop ball awarded instead.
Seattle Sounders improved towards the end of the first half, with Baker-Whiting nearly equalizing through a long-range shot. However, the Spaniards returned from the break with more urgency. Substituted in before the second half, Axel Witsel made an immediate impact. After a parried effort by Frei fell kindly, Robin Le Normand cut the ball back for Witsel to nod home from close range, making it 2-0 in favor of Atletico Madrid.
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Seattle’s Fightback Falls Short as Atletico Regain Control
Just as Atletico seemed to be cruising, Albert Rusnak capitalized on defensive miscommunication to slot home a goal for Seattle Sounders, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The goal reignited belief for the MLS side, but it was short-lived.
Soon after, Atletico Madrid restored their two-goal cushion in a chaotic sequence. A long throw-in was allowed to bounce in the Seattle penalty area, and Barrios made no mistake from close range to score his second of the match. This goal summed up Seattle’s defensive struggles, and once again highlighted Atletico Madrid’s pressing dominance in the Club World Cup group fixture.
Jesus Ferreira nearly brought back the drama late on, finding the net only for the linesman’s flag to cancel the goal due to offside. The disallowed goal confirmed Seattle’s fate — out of the tournament without a single point from three games.
For Seattle Sounders, this was a reality check against one of Europe’s elite. Despite their energy and enthusiasm, they lacked the cutting edge needed to trouble Atletico Madrid in the Club World Cup. With at least two goals conceded in their last four games, defensive issues remain a serious concern.
Atletico Madrid will now turn their attention to a decisive encounter against Botafogo. A win in that game could ensure their progress into the knockout stages, depending on PSG’s result. The Atletico Madrid vs Seattle Sounders Club World Cup clash offered not only goals but also VAR drama, high pressing football, and moments of brilliance — a proper showcase of the competition’s intensity.
FAQs
1. Who scored in the Atletico Madrid vs Seattle Sounders Club World Cup match?
Pablo Barrios scored twice, Axel Witsel added another for Atletico Madrid, while Albert Rusnak scored for Seattle.
2. Why was Atletico Madrid awarded a drop-ball instead of a penalty?
VAR overturned the initial penalty decision on Giuliano Simeone, determining no foul was committed.
3. What’s next for both teams after Atletico Madrid vs Seattle Sounders Club World Cup clash?
Atletico Madrid face Botafogo next, while Seattle Sounders conclude their campaign against Paris Saint-Germain.