Club Brugge just failed to climb back into the lead in the standings. After an exciting match, it did not touch further than a 2-2 draw against Union. The first half started tense and also produced few chances. After the break, both teams drew the cards from the attack with the result that the supporters were treated to a goal feast. Club is now in shared first place with Anderlecht, but the Brusselers have the advantage due to a higher final ranking in the regular league.
Coach Nicky Hayen was able to call on virtually every player, so choices had to be made again. Compared to the previous match, he opted for one new name. Raphael Onyedika returned to the team after his suspension in place of Hugo Vetlesen. Blauw-Zwart already had a good record against Union in the playoffs for now. It won the previous match at Duden Park 1-2. Vetlesen and Meijer scored the goals then. If Club wins, it could mathematically eliminate Union for the title and put itself in pole position for the title.
Blue-Black started the game strongly and showed a lot of drive in front. The Bruges forward with Jutglà, Thiago and Skóraś put Union's defense under pressure right from the start. But Union was dangerous on the counter and so Club also had to watch out immediately at the back. Amoura popped the ball high over with an overhead kick after Onyedika had cleared it, and moments later Mechele concluded with a solid shot against a Union defender.
However, no major chances remained in the first 20 minutes of the first half. Thiago did have the opening goal at his feet after a fantastic pass from Vanaken, but the Brazilian just couldn't get to the ball enough to threaten Moris. Blue-Black seemed to take confidence from the chance. Moments later, De Cuyper was sent away up to the back line. His cross ended up against Mac Allister's leg, but after a quarter of a game Club seemed to have found its rhythm.
With the support of a full Jan Breydel, FCB continued to press well and was clearly the stronger team by the half-hour mark, but it still produced few imposed chances. Apart from a header by Odoi and a distance shot by Jutglà, Blauw-Zwart could not create much danger. With half-time approaching, Club went on the offensive once more. De Cuyper shot a corner kick almost straight in and moments later Vanaken headed a Sabbe cross just wide of Moris' cage. Both teams dove into the locker room with a glasses score after an exciting but chance-poor first half.
Spectacular second half
After the break, Nicky Hayen immediately intervened by replacing two players. Andreas Skov Olsen and Hugo Vetlesen replaced Skóraś and Sabbe, respectively. Those substitutions seemed to help, because after 1 minute Skov Olsen headed the ball millimeters wide of Moris' far post. A reassuring start for Blauw-Zwart, but it was Union that opened the scoring with Henok Teklab barely a minute later with a clever shot into the top corner. 0-1. Club immediately had to chase against a well-organized Union.
With the quick deficit, the home team immediately went on the attack. With a touch, Thiago found Jutglà in midfield. The Catalan scanned Union's defense and gave a perfect pass to Skov Olsen who came one-on-one with the goalkeeper and placed the ball simply past the keeper. 1-1. Club deservedly equalized after a very intense start to the second half.
Just after the tying goal there was a solid collision between Nusa and Thiago. Away from the ball they ran into each other and the latter seemed to be in more pain than expected. The Brazilian striker had to go to the side and indicated moments later that he could no longer play. A big loss for Club that was missing its strongman for the rest of the match. Casper Nielsen was his replacement.
Blauw-Zwart managed to get back into the game after Skov Olsen's goal and was dominant in the match. 20 minutes before the final whistle De Cuyper went for a walk in the Union penalty area and after an intervention by Burgess the ball suddenly ended up in the feet of Skov Olsen who was able to slide the ball easily past Moris. 2-1. Club deservedly took the lead after a double goal by supersub Andreas Skov Olsen. Union immediately went looking for an answer and seconds after Club's goal, Mignolet once had to show himself with a phenomenal parry on a blast from Nilsson. Amoura neatly laid the ball out for the Swedish striker who hit the post after a subtle tap from Mignolet. A vital save from the Blue-Black goalkeeper.
Just before the end of the match, it was Union who showed more attacking impetus. This did not yield more than a few crosses, but 5 minutes before the end Puertas placed a corner on the head of Machida and his header swirled over Mignolet in goal. 2-2. Union unexpectedly equalized in a blistering second half. After the equalizer, it was the away team that kept pushing the gas pedal. Blauw-Zwart struggled to piece together an attack.
Deep into injury time, Club came out with a quick counter attack. The ball suddenly came to Skov Olsen who again stood face to face with Moris. The Dane tried again in a subtle way, but Moris just managed to put his foot in it. Thus Club and Union shared the points in the title fight after a thrilling second half. The draw leaves Union with a slight chance of winning the title, but it still seems to be mainly Club and Anderlecht who face a crucial duel in the title fight on Sunday.
Jupiler Pro League - Champions' Play-offs: Matchday 8
Spectators: 29,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (46' Hugo Vetlesen) - Joel Ordóñez - Brandon Mechele - Maxim De Cuyper - Denis Odoi - Raphael Onyedika (55' Antonio Nusa) - Hans Vanaken - Michał Skóraś (46' Andreas Skov Olsen) - Ferran Jutglà (90'+2 Éder Balanta - Igor Thiago (66' Casper Nielsen).
Bank: Hugo Vetlesen, Andreas Skov Olsen, Antonio Nusa, Casper Nielsen, Éder Balanta, Nordin Jackers, Joaquin Seys, Jorne Spileers, Philip Zinckernagel.
Coach: Nicky Hayen
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise: Antony Moris - Kevin Mac Allister - Christian Burgess - Koki Machida - Alessio Castro-Montes - Mathias Rasmussen- Charles Vanhoutte ( 81' Noah Sadiki) - Cameron Puertas - Henok Teklab ( Loïc Lapoussin) - Gustaf Nilsson ( 80' Denis Eckert Ayensa) - Mohamed El Amine Amoura.
Bench: Loïc Lapoussin, Dennis Eckert Ayensa, Noah Sadiki, Heinz Lindner, Ross Sykes, Guillaume François, Jean Thierry Lazare Amani, Casper Terho, Elton Kabangu.
Coach: Alexander Blessin
Yellow cards: Raphael Onyedika, Nicky Hayen, Alessio Castro-Montes, Christian Burgess.
Red cards: None
Goals: 48' Teklab, 57' Skov Olsen, 72' Skov Olsen, 84' Machida.