In its 350thEuropean match, Club Brugge began the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a home game against Turkish Besiktas JK. Blauw-Zwart could not finish its many chances in the first half, but deep in the second half Vanaken still seemed to ensure a deserved victory. However, Tosun equalized shortly before the end and so the match ended in a disappointment for Club.
Blauw-Zwart knocked off Charleroi in a crazy game last weekend and is now in third place in the national league. Coach Deila therefore had little reason to make many changes to his starting line-up. Only in the offensive compartment did we note one new name. Skóras got the chance to show his potential from the start. The most notable absence from the squad was Nusa, who has been in good form in recent weeks. The Norwegian winger suffered too much discomfort in the back and was consequently spared. Finally, Zinckernagel also had to drop out due to illness.
Club showed from the opening minutes that they felt like it and they immediately demanded the ball. That immediately resulted in two corner kicks and the second also posed danger, but Mechele's heel shot was cleared at the first post. The home team continued to move the ball well from foot to foot and that resulted fairly soon in a great chance for Vanaken. Sabbe brought the ball well in front of goal, but our captain's header unfortunately disappeared against the outside of the post. A few minutes later the same combination on the right flank between Skov Olsen and Sabbe and the latter put the ball low in front of goal. This created a hot stand in front of Günok's cage, but for now the zero remained on the board. On the quarter-hour mark, it was Sabbe himself who was the final goal, but his effort was deflected into a corner kick. Blue-Black crafted one beautiful attack after another, but the efficiency could be better. Thiago was sent in deep, but he could not frame his attempt with the left.
Halfway the first half, the Bruges storm subsided for a moment and the visitors had the ball more in their hands. They did combine, but did not manage to get near Mignolet. The same was true for Blauw-Zwart in the second part of the first half. The Turks had more and more ball possession and Club could not keep up the pressure from the beginning. On the stroke of half-time, there was a moment of threat for the home team, but Skov Olsen decided too weakly in the hands of Günok. Conclusion after the first half: enough chances, but the efficiency in the sixteen meters was lacking. On that note, we thus went to rest with a 0-0 score....
The second half started with the same 22 tenors and this time it was Besiktas that came out of the locker room best. After a miss by Spileers, the ball landed at the feet of Aboubakar. Fortunately, Mignolet reacted quickly and alertly to go wide to foil the attempt. Club responded moments later via a cross from Skov Olsen, but Vanaken's header was too central to really worry Günok. After 10 minutes, Blauw-Zwart had the chance for 1-0! De Cuyper set up a nice one-two with Vetlesen and then tried to kick in one time towards goal. His shot appeared to be the perfect cross for Thiago, but he diverted the ball over goal. Club drew blood and continued through De Cuyper. This time he reached the goal line and put the ball back for Skov Olsen. From close range, he kicked at goal, but Günok prevented the goal with an ultimate leg sweep. Shortly after, it was Vetlesen's turn, but this time Bailly smashed into the path of the shot.
The storm subsided again for a while after this and some substitutions were made. Around minute 70, however, Bruges was again in danger through Skov Olsen. The Dane came inside and looked for the far post, but Günok again parried the ball skilfully. Moments later it was finally bingo for Club! Skov Olsen cut inside and then sent the perfect cross for Vanaken. The captain calmly headed the cross into the net, sending Jan Breydel into ecstasy. The home team continued to push forward, but Günok floated a blast from Nielsen out of his cage. Unfortunately, shortly before the end of regular playing time, what no one thought possible happened. Nielsen sent a wrong pass and through Aboubakar, Tosun appeared alone in front of Mignolet. The Besiktas striker did not hesitate and brought the Turks alongside.
This was obviously a thumping blow for Blauw-Zwart, which still tried to force a final offensive. The ultimate chance for victory came deep into added time when Jutglà dribbled up to the back line. He chipped the ball in front of goal, but there both Thiago and Onyedika were unable to finish sufficiently. Thus, Club ultimately let victory slip from its hands in the closing stages, leaving Jan Breydel frustrated.
UEFA Europa Conference League - Playday 1
Spectators: 29.042 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov (BLR)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (90+2' Dedryck Boyata), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken (c), Hugo Vetlesen (79' Ferran Jutglà) - Andreas Skov Olsen, Igor Thiago, Michal Skóras (61' Casper Nielsen).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Argus Vanden Driessche, Joel Ordóñez, Denis Odoi, Ferran Jutglà, Victor Barberá, Casper Nielsen, Dedryck Boyata, Éder Balanta, Shion Homma.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Besiktas JK: Mert Günok (c) - Valentin Rosier (84' Cenk Tosun), Eric Bailly (84' Necip Uysal), Daniel Amartey, Arthur Masuaku - Milot Rashica (66' Onur Bulut), Amir Hadziahmetovic (84' Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain), Gedson Fernandes, Ege Tiknaz, Jackson Muleka (66' Baktiyor Zainutdinov) - Vincent Aboubakar.
Bench: Ersin Destanoglu, Onur Bulut, Omar Colley, Ante Rebic, Salih Ucan, Cenk Tosun, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rachid Gezzal, Necip Uysal, Baktiyor Zainutdinov, Jean Onana, Semih Kilicsoy.
Coach: Senol Günes.
Yellow cards: Mechele, Amartey, Onyedika, Vetlesen, Spileers, Mignolet, Vanaken
Red cards: none
Goals: 77' Vanaken (1-0), 88' Tosun (1-1)