On match day 22 of the Jupiler Pro League, Club Brugge headed to the Stade du Pays for a clash with RSC Charleroi. Blauw-Zwart already had a comfortable lead at halftime after goals from Mechele, Nielsen and Thiago. The latter extended the score in the second half with his second of the evening. Charleroi got no further than a late honorary goal by Bernier. Thanks to this smooth victory, Club is back in the top 3!
Blauw-Zwart has been in good form for a while, having not lost since the beginning of November. They also started the year 2024 perfectly with a cup victory at KAA Gent and last Saturday a 3-0 victory against KVC Westerlo. Consequently, there were few reasons for coach Deila to make many changes to his starting lineup and that did not happen. The same eleven starters as against Westerlo were allowed to start in the game against RSC Charleroi. In front, Skov Olsen, Zinckernagel and Thiago thus had to provide the goals.
Club immediately showed its attacking intentions, as Skov Olsen was able to push through at speed as early as the first few minutes. Unfortunately, his cross was just a little too sharp, preventing Vanaken from getting to the leather. The Bruges players continued to combine well and easily found the free man. This time it was Nielsen who was able to advance centrally, but his shot was too central to embarrass Patron. Shortly after, the home team also showed themselves twice in short order. First Zorgane cracked his shot a bit on a deflected ball at corner kicks and moments later Nkuba curled the leather wide of the far post. In this phase things immediately went well up and down, because immediately after these opportunities for Charleroi it was Skov Olsen's turn again. In his well-known manner, he drifted inside with the ball at foot before angling it into the far corner. Patron, however, had an excellent save to prevent the early lead for the visitors. A goal was in the air and it came! After a far throw-in by Meijer, Charleroi couldn't get the ball away and the ball ended up at the feet of Mechele. The Bruges defender did not hesitate and kicked the ball into the net with his left. Five minutes later ei so after a double lead was on the board, but Skov Olsen's blast deviated and the leather landed against the post.
That second goal for Blauw-Zwart did come halfway through the first half! Vanaken put Nielsen alone in front of Patron with a subtle ball. The Danish midfielder rounded the Charleroi goalie to slide the ball into the goal. The VAR checked for offside, but the goal was eventually approved. The visitors from Bruges continued to dictate the game and Zinckernagel tried his luck from distance. His shot unfortunately went just wide of the post, but this turned out to be just a stay of execution. Moments later, Van Cleemput got the ball against his back and Thiago did not hesitate to hit the ball hard into the left upper corner. The only thing Charleroi could counter was a shot from distance by Mbenza. Mignolet had little trouble with this attempt, however. Skov Olsen, meanwhile, continued to be a scourge for the Charleroi defense, but this time Van Cleemput was able to help his goalkeeper prevent a fourth goal. The final chord of the first half was still for the home team with a counter goal by Heymans, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside. Club thus went to rest with a comfortable margin of three goals....
At the start of the second half we noted one change at the home team: Dragsnes had a difficult first half against Skov Olsen and was replaced at halftime by Monticelli. The first danger of the second half also came from the Carolos, but Morioka's volley on a dropped ball was too central and posed no problem for Mignolet. Blue-Black soon took over again, however, and soon extended the score a bit more. Skov Olsen was given quite a bit of space and played Thiago at the right moment. The Brazilian striker proved once again that he is on top form and poked his second of the evening into the net. The VAR checked for offside, but Club could finally celebrate. On the hour, coach Deila thought it was time to give some players a rest and immediately made a triple substitution. Thiago, Nielsen and Vetlesen left the field for Jutglà, Balanta and Skóras.
Soon after, Charleroi also made a triple substitution and almost had the home team's honorable goal. The ball was taken to the penalty spot, but Heymans' effort found the post. To this, Blauw-Zwart responded via a corner kick header by Vanaken, but this time straight at Patron. Felice Mazzù's team continued to look for that honorable goal, however, and came close. Mignolet first intervened well on a free kick, but was assisted in Morioka's retrieval by Meijer to prevent the opposing goal.
That honor-saving goal for Charleroi finally came! Guiagon put the ball in front of goal and there Bernier had the time and space to kick it past Mignolet. They didn't get any further than this goal and so Club took a smooth victory at the Stade du Pays. Blauw-Zwart continues its good form and the draw against KAA Gent puts them back in the top 3!
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 22
Spectators: 15.000 - Stade du Pays de Charleroi
Referee: Bert Put
RSC Charleroi: Pierre Patron - Jules Van Cleemput, Stelios Andreou, Vetle Dragsnes (46' Roméo Monticelli) - Zan Rogelj (70' Mehdi Boukamir), Adem Zorgane, Ryota Morioka, Ken Nkuba (70' Antoine Bernier) - Daan Heymans, Isaac Mbenza (70' Parfait Guiagon), Youssouf Sylla (79' Nadir Benbouali).
Bank: Martin Delavallée, Damien Marcq, Jonas Bager, Roméo Monticelli, Mehdi Boukamir, Nikola Stulic, Parfait Guiagon, Antoine Bernier, Nadir Benbouali.
Coach: Felice Mazzù
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Maxim De Cuyper, Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Casper Nielsen (62' Éder Balanta), Hugo Vetlesen (62' Michal Skóras), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (79' Denis Odoi), Igor Thiago (62' Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (79' Antonio Nusa).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Argus Vanden Driessche, Denis Odoi, Dedryck Boyata, Kyriani Sabbe, Éder Balanta, Antonio Nusa, Michal Skóras, Ferran Jutglà, Victor Barberà.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Balanta
Red cards: none
Goals: 12' Mechele (0-1), 22' Nielsen (0-2), 34' Thiago (0-3), 54' Thiago (0-4), 90+4' Bernier (1-4)
