On the second match day of the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge headed to Austria to take on SK Sturm Graz. The Brugge side deservedly took the lead in the first half after a class goal by Tzolis. This eventually turned out to be the winning goal and so Club booked its first important three points in this UEFA Champions League campaign.
Last Friday, Blauw-Zwart took a point with ten men in extremis on the field of Charleroi. Compared to this match, coach Hayen made two substitutions in his starting line-up. In midfield, Jashari was given the confidence to show his ability from the start and Vetlesen disappeared to the bench. In the attacking compartment, Club had to do without deep striker Nilsson. The Swede had some Achilles tendon trouble and was deemed not fit. So it was up to Jutglà, together with Skov Olsen and Tzolis, to provide goals. By the way, for Vanaken it was an anniversary match, as the Club captain played his 50th game in the UEFA Champions League.
In the opening minutes of the match, both teams were a bit hesitant, with the result that we did not see any immediate goal threat. Blauw-Zwart did try to put high pressure and this resulted in a chance for Jutglà. Skov Olsen crossed the ball with his right and the Catalan striker tried at one time, but missed his attempt. Shortly after, Jashari also went for his chance from distance, but his blast did not find the goal frame either. On the quarter hour mark, goalkeeper Scherpen had to intervene on a framed shot by Tzolis. The Sturm Graz goalie had some trouble keeping the ball under control, but eventually grabbed the leather in two times. Blue-Black thus continued to provide the only danger for now and was rewarded for it halfway through the first half! Onyedika found Tzolis with a clever pass and the Greek then conjured a delicious kick from his feet. The leather disappeared against the nets via the far post and thus the Brugge players had secured their deserved lead.
The home side's reaction did not last long, but Mignolet did not have to work miracles for the time being. Just before the half hour mark, a deflected effort landed at the feet of Yalcouyé. The deflected shot landed just wide. Shortly before halftime, the Austrians came close, but Ordóñez got in the way of Biereth's effort and blocked the shot. The final chord of the first half was for Kiteishvili, but his one-time shot from a throw-in did not find the goal frame. Further than such attempts Sturm Graz did not come in the first half, nor did Club really make any moves in search of that second goal. Thus we went to rest with a small, but admittedly deserved, lead for Blauw-Zwart....
At the start of the second half, coach Hayen made one change to his team. Skov Olsen was allowed to stay in the locker room and so Skóraś started the second half. Initially, we got the same picture of play as in the beginning of the first half. Club mainly demanded the ball and in ball loss also tried to put high pressure on Sturm Graz's defense. After ten minutes of play, the visitors had a double opportunity for the double lead. First Tzolis pounced on Scherpen from close range and almost immediately afterwards Skóraś served Jutglà centrally. The latter was also able to touch down from close range, but again Scherpen was in the way to prevent a second goal against. Coach Ilzer decided to intervene with a double substitution and that caused a brief revival for the home team. Substitute Horvat was just on the pitch and tried to put the ball sharply in front of goal. Mignolet was on hand and cleverly boxed the leather away to avoid danger.
Moments later, the same Horvat took a corner kick and placed it on Chukwuani's head. Fortunately, the latter headed well wide of the goal. After this phase, Club regained control of the game and made several substitutions on both sides. For example, Vermant entered the field in place of Jutglà. However, Blauw-Zwart continued to fail to score that safe second goal, as Skóraś also failed to find the goal frame. His crossed shot unfortunately went narrowly wide. Thus, it remained watchful for that one chance for Sturm Graz. A few minutes before the end of regular playing time there was also an opportunity for Geyrhofer, but his shot was parried into a corner by Mignolet.
Four minutes of added time were eventually counted, but in it Club did not run into any more problems. Thus Tzolis' wonderful goal sufficed for the first important three points in the renewed UEFA Champions League!
UEFA Champions League - Matchday 2
Spectators: 29,863 - Wörthersee Stadium
Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (AZE)
SK Sturm Graz: Kjell Scherpen - Max Johnston, Emanuel Aiwu, Niklas Geyrhofer, Jusuf Gazibegovic - Malick Yalcouyé (82' Lovro Zvonarek), Tochi Chukwuani (82' Stefan Hierländer), Otar Kiteishvili - William Bøving (66' Tomi Horvat), Amady Camara (58' Seedy Jatta), Mika Biereth (66' Erencan Yardimci).
Bank: Daniil Khudyakov, Matteo Bignetti, Erencan Yardimci, Lovro Zvonarek, Tomi Horvat, Emir Karic, Seedy Jatta, Arjan Malic, Stefan Hierländer, Markus Schopp, Oliver Sorg, Leon Grgic.
Coach: Christian Ilzer.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys, Brandon Mechele, Joel Ordóñez, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (46' Michał Skóraś), Ferran Jutglà (77' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Romeo Vermant, Michał Skóraś, Casper Nielsen, Kyriani Sabbe, Chemsdine Talbi.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Yalcouyé, Chukwuani, Skóraś, Gazibegovic
Red cards: none
Goals: 23' Tzolis (0-1)