After the international break, Club Brugge traveled to the Guldensporenstadion on matchday 7 of the Jupiler Pro League to take on KV Kortrijk. Blauw-Zwart started the match strongly and took the lead within fifteen minutes through Vanaken. At the end of the second half Talbi was able to double the score and in the added time the final chord was again for captain Vanaken, who nettedhis second of the evening . Club thus gained confidence for the match against Dortmund!
Before the international break, Blauw-Zwart recorded 3 wins in a row, so they could travel to Kortrijk with confidence. Compared to the clear victory against Cercle Brugge, coach Hayen made two changes to his starting line-up. In defense, Romero took Ordóñez' place and in midfield Onyedika disappeared to the bench. This allowed Jashari to show his skills from the start. The attacking trio consisted again of Skov Olsen, Tzolis and Nilsson. At KV Kortrijk, the starting place for Dejaegere was the most striking fact.
In the early stages of the match, Club immediately claimed the ball and tried to push the home team away. This resulted fairly quickly in an opportunity for Nilsson on a nice deep ball from De Cuyper, but the Swede failed to deviate the leather over Gunnarsson. A few minutes later, the tall striker was found again, but this time Kortrijk's goalie had an excellent reflex on Nilsson's header to prevent an early opening goal. The visitors continued to press and tapped the ball around well at the level of the sixteen. De Cuyper put the ball low in front of goal and Vetlesen was able to grab the ball, but Silva smashed in front of the Norwegian's effort in extremis, turning it into a corner kick. Shortly before the quarter-hour mark, Blauw-Zwart's pressure was finally rewarded. De Cuyper played a crafty ball into the sixteen and after a deviation by Nilsson there was doubt in the defense of 'De Kerels'. Vanaken was able to take advantage of this to tap the deserved lead into the nets in front of Gunnarsson. After twenty minutes, Mignolet had to take a first touch. Takamine had space and time to lay on from just outside the sixteen and his shot still deviated. However, Club's goalie had an excellent save to prevent the equalizer.
The home team got better and better in the match and the game was now increasingly played in the visitors' half. The most dangerous man for KV Kortrijk was Takamine, but this time his effort from distance did not find the box. A little after the half hour mark, Blauw-Zwart turned up the heat after a long cross from De Cuyper to Skov Olsen. The latter served Vetlesen in the sixteen, but he missed his heel. Still, the action was not over, as Tzolis reacted the quickest to take the ball. However, the Greek's shot went over Gunnarsson's cage. The Bruges visitors did take back control of the match and so Kortrijk got out less. Shortly before halftime, De Cuyper took a corner kick and he saw Skov Olsen standing free just outside the sixteen. The latter tried his luck in one go, but his volley ended up next to the goal. So we rested with a small lead for Club...
The second half started with the same 22 tenors and this time it was the home team that came out of the locker room a little better. But without creating any immediate goal threat. That goal came after about ten minutes. The ball was put well in front of goal and the shot went through, allowing Dewaele to take advantage from close range. Luckily for Club, Mignolet pulled off a miracle save and prevented a goal from being scored. The reaction from the visitors did not last long, as almost immediately after the big opportunity for the home team, Gunnarsson saved a shot by De Cuyper and then Skov Olsen kicked a little too wildly over goal from close range. Soon after, De Cuyper was there again with a cross-shot, but Nilsson's deviation behind the supporting leg landed just wide of the post. Obviously, there was life in the match at this stage with chances on both sides. Vetlesen again infiltrated well into the sixteen, but he failed to cash in on Vanaken's assist. On the other side, a tight cross from De Neve whizzed past everyone but the far post.
Just past the halfway point of the second half, a nice combination between Skóraś and Nilsson ended up with Tzolis. He cut inside to fish the far corner. His effort unfortunately hit the crossbar. The game continued to be characterized by a lot of fight on both sides, but the goal threat came mainly from Club. Seys received the ball from Vetlesen and decided to shoot towards goal. Lagae smashed into the path of the shot and shortly afterwards he did the same again on an attempt by Vetlesen. So it took a while before Blauw-Zwart could finally decide the match, but after 83 minutes it was the prize! Talbi received the ball, made space for himself and then very cleverly kicked the double lead into the nets in the far corner.
We got five minutes of extra time and in it KVK was able to threaten again. Bruno freed himself and curled the ball towards the far post. Mignolet did not intervene and saw the ball end up just next to the post. Finally Blauw-Zwart was able to celebrate a third time, because after a cross shot by Nilsson, Vanaken was able to put in his second of the evening. Club thus booked a fourth victory in a row and gained confidence for the confrontation with Dortmund!
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 7
Spectators: 9,399 - Guldensporenstadion
Referee: Lothar D'Hondt
KV Kortrijk: Patrik Gunnarsson - Mark Mampassi, João Silva (58' Roko Simic), Bram Lagae - Gilles Dewaele, Tomoki Takamine (87' Nayel Mehssatou), Brecht Dejaegere (72' Massimo Bruno), Abdelkahar Kadri (87' Abdoulaye Sissako), Dion De Neve - Takuro Kaneko, Nacho Ferri (58' Thierry Ambrose).
Bank: Lucas Pirard, Ryan Alebiosu, Abdoulaye Sissako, Massimo Bruno, Nayel Mehssatou, Iver Fossum, Roko Simic, Mounaïm El Idrissy, Thierry Ambrose.
Coach: Freyr Alexandersson.
ClubBrugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (87' Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Zaid Romero, Maxim De Cuyper - Ardon Jashari (59' Raphael Onyedika), Hugo Vetlesen (87' Romeo Vermant), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (59' Michał Skóraś), Gustaf Nilsson, Christos Tzolis (74' Chemsdine Talbi).
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Jorne Spileers, Kyriani Sabbe, Hugo Siquet, Raphael Onyedika, Michał Skóraś, Chemsdine Talbi, Ferran Jutglà, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Silva, Vetlesen, Lagae, Skóraś, Kadri
Red cards: none
Goals: 13' Vanaken (0-1), 83' Talbi (0-2), 90+3' Vanaken (0-3)