Club Brugge travelled to the Stade du Pays for the match against RSC Charleroi on matchday 22. Blauw-Zwart were already in the drivers' seat at half-time after goals by Mechele, Nielsen and Thiago. The latter got his brace in the second half. The hosts pulled one back through Bernier in the dying seconds. Thanks to this win Club secure their place back in the top three of the league.
Blauw-Zwart have been in great form for a while, having not lost since early November. The year 2024 also started perfectly with a cup victory at Gent and a 3-0 league win against Westerlo last Saturday. Coach Deila didn't make any changes to the starting eleven with Skov Olsen, Zinckernagel and Thiago up front.
Club showed its attacking intentions right from the start when Skov Olsen pushed through on the right-hand side inside the first minutes, but his cross just evaded Vanaken in front of goal. Blauw-Zwart continued to dominate the game and when Nielsen was picked out in front of goal, the Dane got his shot away but it was too central to beat Charleroi goalie Patron. The hosts responded through Zorgane and Nkuba, but both players saw their effort sail wide. At the other side of the pitch Skov Olsen cut inside from the right before curling the ball towards the far corner, but Patron tipped it around the post. Club kept the pressure high and broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when Meijer's throw-in landed in the path of Mechele and the central defender fired it into the far low coner. Five minutes later Skov Olsen almost doubled the lead when his shot took a deflection before crashing against the post.
That second goal came half-way the first half when Vanaken sent Nielsen through on goal. The Dane rounded Patron and rolled it in. Initially flagged offside, but VAR overturned that decision: 0-2. Club dictated the pace of the game. Zinckernagel's long-distance strike went just wide, but a few minutes later Thiago stabbed it home from close range to make it three. The home side had little to show for themselves. Mbenza's strike from far out was no problem for Mignolet, while Skov Olsen kept on dominating on his right-hand side. This time Van Cleemput had to help out his goalie to prevent Club's fourth of the evening. Charleroi had the final say of the first half with a goal from Heymans, but he had strayed offside and the goal was chalked off.
Charleroi had made one change at half-time: Monticelli replaced Dragsnes, who had had it rough against Skov Olsen. The first threat came from Charleroi with a half-volley from Morioka, but straight into the hands of Mignolet. Blauw-Zwart quickly took control of the game again and scored another goal when Skov Olsen teed up Thiago and the Brazilian sidefooted it into the far corner. Again, VAR had to overturn the decision of the linesman and Club were 0-4 up.
After an hour play Deila made a triple substitution: Thiago, Nielsen and Vetlesen came off for Jutglà, Balanta and Skóras, quickly followed by a triple substitution by the hosts. Charleroi tried to get back into the game, but Heymans found the post and Mignolet was assisted by Meijer to deny Morioka. In between thoses efforts Vanaken headed a corner kick into the arms of Patron.
In the dying seconds of the match Charleroi did pull one back when Guiagon's low cross found Bernier at the far post and he slotted home. Despite that late goal, Club returned home with a smooth win and three points in the bag.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 22
Attendance: 15.000 – Stade du Pays de Charleroi
Referee: Bert Put
RSC Charleroi: Pierre Patron – Jules Van Cleemput, Stelios Andreou, Vetle Dragsnes (46’ Roméo Monticelli) – Zan Rogelj (70’ Mehdi Boukamir), Adem Zorgane, Ryota Morioka, Ken Nkuba (70’ Antoine Bernier) - Daan Heymans, Isaac Mbenza (70’ Parfait Guiagon), Youssouf Sylla (79’ Nadir Benbouali).
Bench: Martin Delavallée, Damien Marcq, Jonas Bager, Roméo Monticelli, Mehdi Boukamir, Nikola Stulic, Parfait Guiagon, Antoine Bernier, Nadir Benbouali.
Coach: Felice Mazzù
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Maxim De Cuyper, Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer – Casper Nielsen (62’ Éder Balanta), Hugo Vetlesen (62’ Michal Skóras), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (79’ Denis Odoi), Igor Thiago (62’ Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (79’ Antonio Nusa).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Argus Vanden Driessche, Denis Odoi, Dedryck Boyata, Kyriani Sabbe, Éder Balanta, Antonio Nusa, Michal Skóras, Ferran Jutglà, Victor Barberà.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Balanta
Red cards: geen
Goals: 12’ Mechele (0-1), 22’ Nielsen (0-2), 34’ Thiago (0-3), 54’ Thiago (0-4), 90+4’ Bernier (1-4)
