On Boxing Day, Club Brugge made the trip to the Cegeka Arena for an away clash with KRC Genk. Club struck early through a superb curling effort from Vetlesen and soon doubled their advantage when Vermant finished well. Genk quickly reduced the deficit via Sor, but just before the break Vanaken restored the two-goal cushion to make it 1-3 at half-time. After the restart the hosts fought back, with goals from Heymans and Ito drawing them level, yet the final say belonged to Club when Stanković and Sandra both found the net late on to seal a 3-5 victory and ensure Blue & Black end 2025 on a high.
Club came into the game full of confidence after edging past KAA Gent 2-1 at home last Sunday. As a result, head coach Ivan Leko saw little reason to tinker with his starting line-up and changes were kept to a minimum. There was just one adjustment in attack, with Tzolis returning from illness to reclaim his place at the expense of Diakhon. Mechele, who had gone off injured last weekend, was deemed fit enough to start against Genk, while Vermant once again kept his spot as the focal point of the Bruges attack.
The opening exchanges were cautious, with both sides sounding each other out during the first five minutes. Genk enjoyed a slight edge in possession but created little more than a speculative effort from Oh that drifted wide. Gradually, Blauw-Zwart began to assert themselves and went close when Vermant headed straight at Van Crombrugge from close range, the goalkeeper reacting sharply to keep the scores level. It was only a temporary reprieve, however. From the resulting corner, a clever routine saw Tzolis lay the ball off to Vetlesen, and the Norwegian midfielder bent a sublime finish into the far corner. Shortly afterwards the visitors tightened their grip on the contest. A swift counter-attack left Club with numbers around the Genk box, Tzolis squared for Vermant and the striker fired in off the underside of the bar to make it 0-2.
Genk responded quickly, pulling one back within minutes. Oh released Sor in behind and the forward showed great composure to slot past van den Heuvel. Sor continued to cause problems, seeing one effort blocked by Mechele before blazing another attempt over from distance. Just before the interval, Blauw-Zwart struck again. Genk failed to clear their lines, Vermant cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Vetlesen and his cross was met by captain Vanaken, who finished from close range to restore a two-goal lead. Late efforts from Heymans and Medina came to nothing, and Club went in 1-3 up at the break.
Genk made a change at half-time, introducing Mirisola for Oh, and the substitute almost made an immediate impact. Sent through at a tight angle, he tried to catch out van den Heuvel, but the Club keeper stood firm. The hosts did get their second goal a few minutes later. From a free-kick delivered by Hrošovský, Heymans rose at the near post to glance a header into the net. Buoyed by that, Genk pressed forward, creating chances for both Heymans and Heynen, yet Blauw-Zwart held their shape.
Midway through the half, Genk threatened again when a corner was nodded back across goal for Karetsas, whose shot was blocked by Vanaken before Sor failed to capitalise on the rebound. El Ouahdi then fired off target from just outside the area, but the equaliser was starting to feel inevitable. It duly arrived when Ito darted past Siquet, drove into the Club box and finished into the near corner. Momentum seemed to be firmly with the hosts, but Blauw-Zwart showed ruthless efficiency. Given space outside the area, Stanković unleashed a thunderous strike that left Van Crombrugge with no chance and put Club back in front. Genk looked to respond once more, Karetsas testing van den Heuvel from a set piece, but the goalkeeper tipped the ball over.
Seven minutes of added time were indicated, and during that spell substitute Sandra put the game to bed. Cutting inside, his shot took a deflection off Smets and nestled into the far corner. Blauw-Zwart claimed all three points in a thrilling contest and signed off 2025 with an impressive away victory.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 20
Attendance: 23,718 - Cegeka Arena
Referee: Lawrence Visser
KRCGenk: Hendrik Van Crombrugge - Zakaria El Ouahdi (81' Ken Nkuba), Mujaid Sadick, Matte Smets, Yaimar Medina (72' Adrián Palacios) - Bryan Heynen, Patrik Hrošovský (81' Jarne Steuckers), Daan Heymans - Konstantinos Karetsas, Hyeon-gyu Oh (46' Robin Mirisola), Yira Sor (72' Junya Ito).
Bench: Lucca Brughmans, Tobias Lawal, Adrián Palacios, Josué Kongolo, Ken Nkuba, Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, Nikolas Sattlberger, Jusef Erabi, Junya Ito, Jarne Steuckers, Robin Mirisola. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Club Brugge: Dani van den Heuvel - Kyriani Sabbe (65' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković, Hugo Vetlesen (90+1' Bjorn Meijer), Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs (90+1' Cisse Sandra), Romeo Vermant (74' Nicolò Tresoldi), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Axl De Corte, Bjorn Meijer, Vince Osuji, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers, Cisse Sandra, Mamadou Diakhon, Nicolò Tresoldi, Kaye Furo.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Yellow cards: Medina, Oh, Vermant, Sabbe, Sadick, Ordóñez
Red cards: none
Goals: 13' Vetlesen (0-1), 22' Vermant (0-2), 24' Sor (1-2), 43' Vanaken (1-3), 51' Heymans (2-3), 76' Ito (3-3), 80' Stanković (3-4), 90+3' Sandra (3-5)