Playday 4 of the Champions' Playoffs was a midweek matchday and in it Club Brugge hosted KV Mechelen at home. The Bruges side took an early lead through Vetlesen, but moments later the visitors were able to equalize through Konaté. This was also the score at halftime, but Club started the second half furiously and after fifteen minutes it was already 4-1 after goals by Stanković, Forbs and Tresoldi. Finally, captain Vanaken also scored a goal and Tzolis made it 6-1 in extra time. After Union's draw against Ghent, Club did an excellent job!
Blauw-Zwart unfortunately went down by the smallest of differences last weekend in the topper against leaders Union. Fortunately, there wasn't really much time to brood, because three days later the home game against KV Mechelen followed immediately. For this, coach Ivan Leko made three changes to his starting eleven compared to last Sunday. In defense, Meijer made room for Siquet and Seys moved back to his familiar position at left back. In midfield, Vanaken rejoined the team and replaced the slightly injured Onyedika. Finally, the striker opted for Tresoldi this time and Vermant had to content himself with a substitute role.
It was the visitors who claimed the ball in the opening minutes, but without causing any concrete goal danger. Then Club responded very wisely! After 4 minutes, a smooth attack was set up through Tresoldi and Tzolis and the latter put the ball sharply in front of goal. At the second post, Forbs popped up who was just able to keep the leather in and lay it back. The finishing touch was finally Vetlesen who kicked the early lead for Blauw-Zwart past Miras from close range. The Bruggelingen were clearly in the mood and a few minutes later we already noted new goal danger. Tzolis looked for the head of Vanaken, but he couldn't reach the ball sufficiently and then Tresoldi was also too surprised at the second post. KV Mechelen could not really threaten until then, but after ten minutes it was suddenly equalized. Van Brederode cut a free kick sharply and from close range Konaté was able to buffet the 1-1 with his head against the nets. It was clear that the momentum was now somewhat with the visitors in this phase, because on the quarter hour Jackers had to pull out all the stops to float an effort from Servais above his crossbar.
Halfway through the first half, Blauw-Zwart got back into the match better and this gradually resulted in goal danger. First Forbs had a good move, but his cross just failed to find a teammate and shortly afterwards it was twice Stanković who went for his chance. His shot from the second line was deflected into a corner and on that corner he himself was able to head at the second post from close range on goal, but Miras did not allow himself to be outsmarted. Mechelen, however, did not let up either and reacted via a quick counterattack Antonio brings the ball low in front of goal and there Mrabti sticks out another cat's paw. Jackers was beaten in the process, but was fortunately saved by the post. The game was now going well up and down, as Club also took Miras under fire. Siquet tried once from just outside the penalty area, but his blast was worked into a corner by Mechelen's goalie. Moments later it was Stanković's turn again via a free kick from the second line, but his deviated shot posed no problem for Miras. Thus, after a chance-rich first half, we finally went to rest with one goal on each side....
The same 22 names were on the sheet to start the second half and it was immediately clear that Blauw-Zwart had come out of the locker room with a lot of attacking spirit. That resulted in another lead as early as the first minute! Stanković recuperated the ball on the edge of the penalty area and then took the ball on the slipper to make it 2-1 via the post. The home team wanted to press immediately and a few minutes later Tzolis created space for himself, but his kick from distance unfortunately went over Miras' cage. Club kept pressing, however, and ten minutes after Stanković's goal, it was another hit! After a quick counterattack, Vanaken found the free Forbs and the latter placed the cross past Miras. However, Bruges' hunger was not yet satisfied, because on the hour, a fourth goal was scored! Vetlesen put the ball perfectly deep into the barrel of Tresoldi and the latter kicked the 4-1 quite easily on the scoreboard. A little before halfway through the second half, Club ei was allowed to cheer a fifth time, but with a clever reflex Miras prevented another goal by Stanković.
Both trainers then decided to make a triple substitution, but this did not immediately change the game. The substitute Onyedika also went close to scoring a goal, but his shot went just wide of the far post. The fifth goal came shortly after through Vanaken! Siquet put the ball hard in front of goal where Miras pushed the ball into the feet of our captain, who only had to tap it in. The one-way soccer continued and almost Vermant also scored a goal. This time, however, Miras reacted well with a leg sweep. At the end of regular playing time, the visitors poked against, but van Brederode could not frame his shot. Nor could he a few minutes later when he curled a free kick over the wall, but also over Jackers' cage.
Two minutes of extra time were finally counted and in it the final word was once again for Blauw-Zwart! Forbs pushed forward at speed in the penalty area and was kicked on the heels of Diouf. After the intervention of VAR, Forbs was given a red card and Tzolis was allowed to score 6-1 from the penalty spot. Blauw-Zwart thus recorded a large victory and was able to cheer even more when Union drew against KAA Gent.
Champions' Play-offs - Playday 4
Spectators: 29,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Hugo Siquet, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (70' Bjorn Meijer) - Aleksandar Stanković (70' Raphael Onyedika), Hugo Vetlesen (81' Cisse Sandra), Hans Vanaken (86' Gustaf Nilsson) - Carlos Forbs, Nicolò Tresoldi (70' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bank: Dani van den Heuvel, Bjorn Meijer, Jorne Spileers, Cisse Sandra, Raphael Onyedika, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
KV Mechelen: Nacho Miras - José Marsà, Mory Konaté, Tommy St. Jago - Mathis Servais, Kerim Mrabti, Fredrik Hammar (68' Gora Diouf), Thérence Koudou (68' Keano Van Rafelghem) - Myron van Brederode, Bouke Boersma (85' Mauro Lenaerts), Bill Antonio (68' Massimo Decoene).
Bank: Ortwin De Wolf, Gora Diouf, Maksim Kireev, Bilal Bafdili, Hassane Bandé, Ian Struyf, Lovro Golič, Keano Van Rafelghem, Mauro Lenaerts, Massimo Decoene.
Coach: Frederik Vanderbiest.
Yellow cards: Hammar, Konaté
Red cards: Diouf
Goals: 4' Vetlesen (1-0), 10' Konaté (1-1), 46' Stanković (2-1), 56' Forbs (3-1), 60' Tresoldi (4-1), 78' Vanaken (5-1), 90+5' Tzolis (6-1)