In the renewedUEFA Champions League , Club Brugge took on German Borussia Dortmund on the first match day at Jan Breydel . In a promising first half, no goals were eventually scored. That did happen in the latter part of the second half when substitute Gittens was able to score twice in ten minutes. In the added time, Guirassy ruled from the spot the far too harsh verdict for Blauw-Zwart and set the final score at 0-3.
Blauw-Zwart had a good dress rehearsal last Saturday by beating KV Kortrijk 0-3. Coach Hayen therefore did not have many reasons to change his starting line-up and he did not. We noted two changes, one in defense and one in midfield. Romero moved to the bench at the expense of Ordóñez and in midfield Onyedika was allowed to start again. Thus, Jashari had to settle for a substitute role. Furthermore, the same names were at the kickoff, so the offensive trio consisted once again of Skov Olsen and Tzolis playing in support of Nilsson.
In a churning Jan Breydel, both teams started the match with great intensity. The first potential threat came from the home side when Nilsson was sent in deep, but Süle was earlier on the ball. Shortly after, however, it was Dortmund who were able to immediately create goal danger. Malen was found at the far post, but fortunately his effort went wide. Here Club got away well. That was the case again a few minutes later when Adeyemi struck from distance. Fortunately, Mignolet was alert to save and whipped the low peg out of his cage. Blue-Black's reaction was not long in coming, however. After a studied corner kick by De Cuyper, a true scrimmage took place in front of Kobel's goal. Up to five times the goal could be taken, but each time a German was in the way. In addition, Vetlesen hit the underside of the crossbar from close range. The game went back and forth well, as Dortmund also remained dangerous. Malen was able to control the ball in the sixteen and then took half a shot on the turn. Mignolet was once again level and picked out with an excellent reflex to prevent the counter goal. On the opposite side, it was Nilsson's turn to try, but his shot was a little too rash and went wide of goal. On stationary phases, the home team also provided threat on several occasions. De Cuyper found the head of Mechele, but he could not apply enough force to trouble Kobel. Brandt then thought of trying it from long range, but this time Mignolet did not have to intervene on his attempt.
In minute 23, the "Sterchele" minute, Skov Olsen got the ball in deep and the Dane was able to get inside and take a shot. Unfortunately, his curl was a little too central, which meant Kobel had relatively little trouble stopping the attempt. It remained watchful, however, with the nimble attackers Malen and Adeyemi. They combined smoothly through the Bruges defense, but Mignolet did not allow himself to be surprised in his short corner on a blast from Adeyemi. After an intense first half, both teams had to recover a bit and the tempo dropped a bit. The German visitors got no further than a few harmless long-distance attempts, but the biggest chance was for Blauw-Zwart. Skov Olsen drove up with the ball at foot and smoothly passed Groß. He then tried to outsmart Kobel in the short corner, but the latter turned the shot with a foot sweep into a corner kick. After a promising first half, we finally went to rest at 0-0.....
The second half started with the same 22 tenors and this time it was Club that provided the first goal threat. Seys brought the ball well in front of goal and at the second post Tzolis climbed highest. However, the Greek was unable to give direction to his header. The reaction of the German visitors did not last long when Mignolet miscued a bit on a cross, but fortunately without further consequence. Shortly after, Mignolet came out well, but Sabitzer was able to try from long range toward an empty goal. His attempt fortunately went over Mignolet's cage. The same Sabitzer also tried moments later via a free kick just outside the sixteen, but this time he curled the leather wide of the far post. In this phase the game went back and forth well, because Blauw-Zwart did not let themselves go unchallenged either. Nilsson just could not reach a low cross and Vanaken could not find the frame in the rebound either. A few minutes later, Tzolis once went for his chance from outside the box, but his curl went a meter wide of the far top corner. The Bridge goalkeepers kept coming, but Kobel also stood up to a strong match. Skov Olsen and Vetlesen set up a nice one-two, but the latter could not print hard enough. This allowed Kobel to whip the leather out of his corner.
Just like in the first half, the high tempo on both sides could not be maintained and this was the moment for both trainers to bring in some fresh players. For example, Jutglà and Sabbe came into the team for Nilsson and Seys. Just when the match was in balance, Club suffered a nasty blow. The substitute Gittens got a bit too much space from Sabbe and was able to blast towards goal. Via Sabbe and Ordóñez, the ball whirled into the nets in the far corner. The home team logically had to recover for a moment and Dortmund tried to take advantage of this. Brandt lashed in, but fortunately the ball went over Mignolet's cage via De Cuyper. Five minutes later, however, the game was unfortunately decided. Once again Gittens dribbled his way into the box a bit too easily and was able to outsmart Club's goalie from close range.
We were given three minutes of added time and in it Blauw-Zwart finally had to empty the chalice to the bottom. Mechele falsely stopped Guirassy in the sixteen and a penalty kick was the heavy verdict. Dortmund's striker did not let the chance go unused, setting the far too heavy final score. Club played a more than creditable game, but ultimately remains empty-handed after a too-tough 0-3.
UEFA Champions League - Playday 1
Spectators: 29,042 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (71' Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Joel Ordóñez, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Hugo Vetlesen, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen, Gustaf Nilsson (65' Ferran Jutglà), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Ferran Jutglà, Romeo Vermant, Michał Skóraś, Casper Nielsen, Ardon Jashari, Kyriani Sabbe, Chemsdine Talbi.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel - Julian Ryerson, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle, Ramy Bensebaini (59' Waldemar Anton) - Donyell Malen (59' Serhou Guirassy), Marcel Sabitzer (68' Jamie Gittens), Emre Can, Julian Brandt, Pascal Groß (68' Felix Nmecha) - Karim Adeyemi (87' Yan Couto).
Bench: Alexander Meyer, Marcel Lotka, Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Julien Duranville, Almugera Kabar, Jamie Gittens, Ayman Azhil.
Coach: Nuri Şahin.
Yellow cards: Vetlesen, Ryerson
Red cards: none
Goals: 76' Gittens (0-1), 86' Gittens (0-2), 90+5' Guirassy (0-3)