Match Day 2 in the UEFA Europa Conference League sent Blue and Black on a mission to Norway to face locals Bodø/Glimt. Halfway through the first half, Club took the lead as Vanaken tapped in a fine Zinckernagel cross, and the score remained unchanged by the final whistle. A first win in these Group stages, helping Club to the top position in its group!
A fourth consecutive 1-1 against Sint-Truiden over the weekend spurred coach Deila to make some changes to his Starting XI. Spileers reclaimed his spot in defense at the expense of Boyata, and in midfield, Vetlesen earned another start against his former employer. No Skov Olsen, out injured, leaving room for Skóras on the left wing. Finally, Thiago was sent up front with Jutglà again on the bench. Finally, Buchanan, back after a month of injury woes, also manned the bench in the ice cold North.
The opening minutes saw a dominant Club, with lots of possession and forward pressure. Apart from a light header by Thiago, this did not lead to any danger, however. Clever play by the home team even resulted in the first big chance of the game: Grønbæk was sent through the off-side trap and headed for Mignolet, but Club's Nr 1 reacted eagerly and dove in the feet of the Norwegian forward to deny him the opener. The chance came as a bit of a wake-up call to Club, again heading forward with chances for Thiago (amining in the side netting) and Vanaken (misfiring a pulled back cross). Twenty minutes into the game, the same scenario lead to Club's opening goal. Vetlesen sent Zinckernagel, on the brink of off side, through and the Dane's fine 45 pass met with the infiltrating Vanaken, slotting in the opener in all ease.
A bit later on, an industrious Zinckernagel put Thiago through on goal, but the latter drifted a bit too far off, setting up Skóras, but the Polish winger's left-foot shot chipped into corner kick. With five minutes to go, the hosts pushed through on the right through Gulliksen, pulling back to Grønbæk, whose fancy footwork offered him the chance to make it even, but his shot went over. A narrow escape for Club, going into the break with a narrow lead.
The same 22 names to take on the second half, and again Bodø/Glimt started with a fine chance. A subtle flick opened up Moumbagna, who tried his luck, but again Mignolet stood ground and denied the equaliser with a fine foot reflex. More danger by the hosts five minutes later, as Pellegrino tried his luck but missed his shot and the ball was cleared in time. Club reacted with a great Zinckernagel-Skóras link-up, with the latter offering De Cuyper a shot, unfortunately ending up in the side netting. The visitors now kept coming, and Jutglà was the next to try his luck, but he was also uncapable of beating goalkeeper Khaykin. Buchanan, coming on strong in the second half, asked the home defense many questions, but his fine actions and crosses did not lead to more goals.
With both teams bringing on new blood, the game went in a standstill, with Club in control, and Bodø/Glimt unable to find its way towards Mignolet's goal, with the exception of one Fet shot, eagerly clawed by the Bruges goalie. Club now put all of its focus on that clean sheet, and was unable to create any further danger.
With the end in clear view, the Norwegian side tried turning the tide with more substitutions, but this did not change the fact that Club claimed its first UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stages win, putting the team top of its group.
UEFA Europa Conference League – Match Day 2
Audience: 8,270 – Aspmyra Stadium
Ref: Mr. Ondrej Berka (CZE)
Bodø/Glimt: Nikita Khaykin – Fredrik Sjøvold, Brede Moe (90+2’ Isak Amundsen), Odin Bjørtuft, André Bjørkan (72’ Adam Sørensen) – Ulrik Saltnes (72’ Sondre Brunstad Fet), Patrick Berg, Albert Grønbæk – Tobias Gulliksen (90+2’ Oscar Forsmo Kapskarmo), Faris Moumbagna, Amahl Pellegrino (72’ Nino Zugelj).
Bench: Magnus Brøndbo, Isak Sjong, Marius Lode, Isak Amundsen, Daniel Bassi, Morten Konradsen, Sondre Brunstad Fet, Petter Noaskhare Dahl, Oscar Forsmo Kapskarmo, Adam Sørensen, Nino Zugelj.
Coach: Kjetil Knutsen.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (87’ Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken, Hugo Vetlesen – Michal Skóras (83’ Shion Homma), Igor Thiago (56’ Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (56’ Tajon Buchanan).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Nick Shinton, Joel Ordóñez, Dedryck Boyata, Tajon Buchanan, Éder Balanta, Casper Nielsen, Shion Homma, Victor Barbera, Ferran Jutglà.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow: Skóras, De Cuyper, Gulliksen, Grønbæk, Bjørkan, Jutglà
Red: none
Goal: 20’ Vanaken (0-1)