In the playoff round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, Blauw-Zwart traveled to Spain's Osasuna for the away match. In a first half without many big chances, no goals were scored. Skov Olsen did open the scoring early in the first half, but Ávila leveled the boards. With a wonderful blast, De Cuyper finally made sure Club took a very important win!
Blue-Black took out Sunday in the Jupiler Pro League by shooting against RWDM. Coach Deila thus had little reason to shake up his squad for the confrontation with Osasuna. Consequently, we noted only one substitution in the starting lineup. Captain Vanaken, who sat on the bench after illness, returned to the team and Nusa had to settle for a substitute role.
In hot conditions, it was the home team that claimed the ball almost immediately. Club was pushed back, but stood well in the defensive organization and so Mignolet did not have to intervene in the first 10 minutes. After this intense opening phase, Bruges did try to restore the balance. Just after 15 minutes, the first chance fell and it was for the Spaniards. Ávila controlled the ball just outside the penalty area and lashed in. His shot lacked direction, but it was the first effective shot towards goal. A few minutes later Mignolet had to intervene on a sharp free kick, but he boxed it away well before it became dangerous.
After the drinks break, it was again Osasuna that showed the most attacking spirit and that resulted almost immediately in a first attempt inside the goal box. Rubén Garcia tried once from distance and this time Mignolet had a little more trouble with the colliding ball, but Club's goalie did parry the shot. At minute 35, it was again the home team's most dangerous man, namely Rubén Garcia, who saw Mignolet out of his goal and tried with a lob ball. Fortunately, the leather landed on the roof of the goal, but the goal threat increased. A few minutes later, the same name came in with the ball at foot and then angled the short corner. This attempt went just wide of Mignolet's goal. Until a few minutes before half-time Blauw-Zwart did not manage to create any chances, but suddenly the biggest opportunity of the match fell to the Bruges side. Vetlesen dropped the leather perfectly into the back of the Spanish defense and there Zinckernagel was free to head towards goal from close range. Unfortunately, however, he failed to frame the ball and so the chance went over Fernández's cage. Thus, we went to rest with the glasses score....
The second half started with the same 22 main players and this time it was not long to wait for the first opportunity. Rubén Garcia came inside with the ball at foot and then decided to pop. Mignolet fortunately saw the peg whiz just over the crossbar. A few minutes later the dream scenario unfolded for Blue-Black! Skov Olsen had some space and came inside, but then seemed to lose the ball. Yet he managed to react the quickest, popping the ball dry past Fernández. Osasuna seemed a bit off balance and Blauw-Zwart tried to take advantage of this. On the hour, Zinckernagel dribbled past his closest foe to fish out the far corner. Unfortunately, a Spanish leg was still in the path of the shot.
At minute 70, Club had just the chance to double the lead when ref Millot pointed to the spot. Vetlesen poked the ball nicely deep for Thiago, who got to the ball before Fernández. However, the Brazilian striker set off from offside, reversing the ref's decision. A few minutes after the drinking break, the visitors then had to suffer a thumping after all. Moncayola put the ball sharply in front of goal and there Ávila headed the equalizer past Mignolet. Blauw-Zwart's reaction was good, however, because less than two minutes later the Bruges lead was back on the board. Vetlesen put the ball perfectly deep for De Cuyper, who popped it delightfully into the net! After this goal, it was all hands on deck for Club and it got hot in front of Mignolet's cage a few more times.
In the added time, Osasuna still had the biggest opportunity for the equalizer and Club got away well. Ibáñez popped up in the sixteen and was able to head at goal from close range. Fortunately, the ball fell just over on the roof of the goal. In the absolute end, Mignolet caught a hard shot and then the final signal sounded. Blauw-Zwart thus booked a very important victory in view of the return game at Jan Breydel!
UEFA Europa Conference League - Play-offs (away match)
Spectators: 23.576 - Estadio El Sadar
Referee: Benoît Millot (FRA)
CA Osasuna: Aitor Fernández - Rubén Peña (83' Jesús Areso) , Alejandro Catena, David García, Johan Mojica - Lucas Torró (83' Pablo Ibáñez), Jon Moncayola, Aimar Oroz (66' José Manuel Arnáiz) - Rubén Garcia (66' Ante Budimir), Chimy Ávila, Moi Gómez (89' Kike Barja).
Bench: Sergio Herrera, Nacho Vidal, Juan Cruz, Unai García, Kike Barja, Jesús Areso, Ante Budimir, Pablo Ibáñez, José Manuel Arnáiz, Raúl García, Jorge Herrando, Iker Muñoz.
Coach: Jagoba Arrasate.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan (75' Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken, Hugo Vetlesen - Andreas Skov Olsen (75' Antonio Nusa), Igor Thiago (75' Dedryck Boyata), Philip Zinckernagel (88' .
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Kiany Vroman, Joel Ordóñez, Dedryck Boyata, Kyriani Sabbe, Denis Odoi, Antonio Nusa, Michal Skóras, Victor Barbera, Roman Yaremchuk.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Mojica, D. García, Buchanan, Onyedika, Thiago, Skov Olsen, Mignolet
Red cards: none
Goals: 51' Skov Olsen (0-1), 78' Ávila (1-1), 80' De Cuyper (1-2)