The Swiss mountains welcomed Club Brugge on Match day 3 of the UEFA Europa Conference League, where the Belgian outfit faced locals Lugano. Having taken the lead fifteen minutes into the game through a Balanta header, Club furthered the score through a Skov Olsen cracker early in the second half. Lugano fought its way back into the game with Vladi tapping it in from close range, but skipper Vanaken made sure the point came to Belgium with the 1-3. The win puts Club top of its group!
The bitter 1-0 defeat at KV Kortrijk had its repercussions on Ronny Deila's side, shuffling his Starting XI by bringing on Meijer at the expense of De Cuyper, and opting for more experience and defensive stability in Nielsen and Balanta in midfield, referring Vetlesen and Onyedika to the bench. Up front, Zinckernagel reclaimed his spot alongside Thiago and Skov Olsen.
The hosts had not been in the best of shapes in the home league, but took matters in hand in the opening minutes of the game, but it was Club with the first real threat of the game, Zinckernagel set up by Vanaken and making his way past two defenders. The shot that followed was too central, allowing goalie Saipi to clear the ball with a fine foot reflex. Lugano played up to par, but was unable to cause any real danger. Not so for Club, and the travelling fans heralded a first goal with just fifteen minutes played, as Zinckernagel produced a great cross to find Balanta in front of goal all alone as he headed in the opener.
With the first half well underway, Nielsen tried his luck from afar taking a cleared ball in one go but seeing it drift past Saipi's goal. No big chances followed, with the game mostly disputed in midfield, but as the break lured around the corner, Club started pushing on. Nielsen saw Skov Olsen go on the wing, and teed the latter up for a header, but the Dane's effort was poorly aimed and went over. Another chance followed for Club's dynamic Dane, but his free kick from well outside the box trailed wide and over. One more chance followed before the two teams headed for the dressing room, as Vanaken took a ball in one go but unfortunately was unable to keep the ball low, keeping the score at 0-1 at half time.
The two sides manned the pitch unchanged but for one player: Cimignani coming on for Lugano and Jutglà running onto the field for Thiago. As was the case in the first half, Club took care of the first chance, but captain Vanaken was unable to make the most of Jutglà's pulled back pass. Moments later, however, a high-quality run by Skov Olsen ended against the back of the nets as the Dane cut inside to set up his left foot, hammering the ball in the bottom right hand corner. The goal produced a cushion for Club, and it seemed game over for a lacklustre Lugano side, but the hosts found more fervour with their backs against the wall. Celar first headed just wide, and a bit later Mignolet floated as he denied Cimignani's fine shot. With sixty minutes played, Club went through a tight spot as Bislimi's header met with the post. Not at ease, coach Deila summmoned De Cuyper, Onyedika and Nusa to try and secure that win.
It took some time for the many changes to settle in both teams, but it was again the Swiss that asked Club questions in Minute 70, Vladi allowed a free header by the first post, but his header missed target. What was in the cards all along finally came: a first attempt from outside the box was denied by Mignolet as he dove to the first post, but in the rebound Vladi followed up well to bring Lugano back in the game. Five minutes later the game seemed up for a total reheaval as ref Haţegan pointed towards the spot. VAR intervened, however, absolving Mechele of the foul he made, proving he was earlier to the ball than his opponent. Club was seeing stars and was in survival mode all of a sudden, but brushed itself off little by little. A fine opportunity followed for Jutglà, aiming for the first post with his kick, but finding goalkeeper Saipi on his way.
Relief finally came just a few minutes before the end. Mechele helping out in attack, the defender produced a high ball from within the box over the Lugano defense to see it met with the head of Vanaken, neatly tucking in the 1-3. Club's win safeguarded, the team played out the remaining minutes. The victory takes Club top of its group!
UEFA Europa Conference League – Match day 3
Audience: 3,930 – Letzigrund
Ref: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROE)
FC Lugano: Amir Saipi – Jhon Espinoza (60’ Martim Marques), Lukas Mai, Kreshnik Hajrizi, Allan Arigoni – Uran Bislimi (78’ Roman Macek), Anto Grgic (60’ Mohamed Mahmoud), Jonathan Sabbatini (68’ Shkelqim Vladi) – Renato Steffen, Zan Celar, Mattia Bottani (46’ Yanis Cimignani).
Bench: Steven Deana, Diego Emerson Mina, Albian Hajdari, Roman Macek, Shkelqim Vladi, Yanis Cimignani, Ayman El Wafi, Martim Marques, Boris Babic, Mohamed Mahmoud.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Tajon Buchanan, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer (63’ Maxim De Cuyper) – Éder Balanta (63’ Raphael Onyedika), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen (63’ Antonio Nusa), Igor Thiago (46’ Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (78’ Joel Ordóñez).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Joel Ordóñez, Denis Odoi, Michał Skóraś, Ferran Jutglà, Hugo Vetlesen, Raphael Onyedika, Antonio Nusa, Maxim De Cuyper.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow: Thiago, Steffen, Vanaken, Hajrizi, Vladi, Jutglà
Red: none
Goals: 15’ Balanta (0-1), 50’ Skov Olsen (0-2), 74’ Vladi (1-2), 87’ Vanaken (1-3)