On matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge headed to the mythical San Siro to take on AC Milan. Blauw-Zwart started the match ironclad, but could not capitalize on several chances. A little after the half-hour mark, Club suffered two setbacks in a short time, namely a counter-goal by Pulisic and a red card for Onyedika. With a man down, the Bruges fans came alongside early in the second half through a goal by Sabbe. In the end, the visitors lost the game after two goals by Reijnders and Club went down 3-1 to AC Milan.
Club won 1-2 at the KVC Westerlo field last weekend and consequently, coach Hayen didn't really have reasons to change much. Neither did he, as only two substitutions were made in the starting eleven. In defense, Ordóñez took Spileers' place and in the offensive department, Jutglà got his chance again in the striker. Tzolis and Talbi played in support of the Catalan. At AC Milan, the lineup was already communicated the day before the match, so herewith no surprises. Among others, Morata, Leão and Pulisic had to be stopped.
Blauw-Zwart was by no means impressed by the circumstances, as the Brugge side immediately put Milan firmly in place and came out dangerously themselves on several occasions. That resulted after three minutes in a giant chance for Tzolis. The Greek was able to print from close range, but Maignan neutralized the attempt with a leg sweep. Barely one minute later, it was the turn of Jutglà, who was played the ball by Tzolis. The Catalan striker leaned back a little too much, unable to frame his shot. These two opportunities were not enough, as Tzolis remained Club's most dangerous man. From the sixteen, he looked for his right with a cross to then fish the far corner with a curled shot. This time, Maignan had a good hover to tap the leather into a corner kick. That corner kick also produced danger, when a shot by De Cuyper was first blocked. The danger was not yet over, as Ordóñez received the ball and did not hesitate to blast. His peg unfortunately stranded against the crossbar. The home team was unable to create a concrete goal threat in the opening quarter and Mignolet did not have to intervene on a distance shot by Fofana either.
The Blue-Black storm had subsided by now and Milan had restored the balance. Just past halfway through the first half, the Milanese were able to threaten again from a corner kick, but Gabbia headed wide of Mignolet's cage. A few minutes later, Club's goalie had to really distinguish himself for the first time. Leão dribbled himself into the sixteen at speed and was finally able to serve Pulisic at the far post. The latter was able to strike from an acute angle, but Mignolet stood firm and did not allow himself to be outsmarted. The game now went well up and down, as the visitors also showed themselves once again. Tzolis advanced with the ball at foot and then served Jutglà who made the overlap. The Catalan immediately kicked from an acute angle, but Maignan was able to keep the leather out of his goal with a foot sweep. A few minutes later, Blue-Black still had to chase. Pulisic put himself behind the ball to take a corner kick and cut it so sharply that the leather landed directly in goal through a forest of players. Shortly after this Olympic goal, the visitors had to deal with another setback. Reijnders and Onyedika dueled hard and footage showed that the Nigerian's foot was on the Dutchman's ankle. After the VAR intervened, the verdict was harsh: a red card and Club had to continue with ten for more than one half. In the added time of the first half, Talbi tried to fire at Maignan, but his shot was too central to worry the French goalkeeper. Thus, the Bruges players went to rest with a leaden task ...
Nicky Hayen made a double change at halftime, leaving Talbi and Seys in the dressing room for Vetlesen and Sabbe. The latter saw Leão rush past, but Hernández was unable to keep his cross down. With an extra man, the home side naturally found space more easily and Pulisic tried to take advantage with a kick to the top corner. Luckily his header went wide. Those who thought Club was already hanging against the nets, however, were deceived! After a wonderful combination over several stations, the ball finally reached Sabbe. He did not hesitate to kick the cross past Maignan. It was clear that Milan had to recover from this equalizer, because they did not get further than a distance attempt by Hernández next to goal. Blue-Black was well organized and tried to lurk on the counter-attack. On the hour, however, Club had to chase again. Okafor, who had just stepped in, put himself through at speed and then served Reijnders who kicked a new Milan lead past Mignolet into the nets. The visitors logically had to recover a bit from this and five minutes later there was egg so after the death blow. Jashari wanted to clear a corner kick, but touched the leather all wrong and so the ball capriolized against the crossbar.
Still, Blauw-Zwart certainly did not give in yet, as Vetlesen went deep once more. The Norwegian midfielder received the ball in the sixteen, but could not print enough to be really dangerous. After 70 minutes, however, the match unfortunately seemed to have fallen into a decisive fold. The other substitute Chukwueze dribbled past Vanaken and then laid the leather centrally in front of Reijnders. The Dutchman then calmly kicked his second of the evening past Mignolet. Club was unable to make a fist in the last quarter of the game and was lucky that Milan could not extend the score. At the end of regular playing time, the young Camarda was able to shake the nets, but his goal with his head was flagged for offside. Soon after, the speedy Chukwueze was also able to push through to the back line, but Mignolet did not allow another counter goal.
Five extra minutes were eventually counted, but in it both teams seemed to make peace with the current score. Thus, Blauw-Zwart eventually went down 3-1 on the AC Milan pitch. Sunday awaits the topper at Jan Breydel against RSC Anderlecht!
UEFA Champions League - Playday 3
Spectators: 75,817- Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (DUI)
AC Milan: Mike Maignan - Emerson, Matteo Gabbia (83' Malick Thiaw), Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernández - Christian Pulisic, Youssouf Fofana (75' Yunus Musah), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (60' Noah Okafor), Tijjani Reijnders, Rafael Leão (60' Samuel Chukwueze) - Álvaro Morata (75' Francesco Camarda).
Bench: Marco Sportiello, Lorenzo Torriani, Noah Okafor, Kevin Zeroli, Samuel Chukwueze, Malick Thiaw, Strahinja Pavlović, Filippo Terracciano, Francesco Camarda, Yunus Musah.
Coach: Paulo Fonseca.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (46' Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Joel Ordóñez, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari (83' Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Chemsdine Talbi (46' Hugo Vetlesen), Ferran Jutglà (70' Michał Skóraś), Christos Tzolis (70' Andreas Skov Olsen).
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Jorne Spileers, Hugo Vetlesen, Zaid Romero, Andreas Skov Olsen, Kyriani Sabbe, Casper Nielsen, Michał Skóraś, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Seys, Jashari, Leão, Morata, Gabbia, Skóraś, Camarda
Red cards: Onyedika
Goals: 34' Pulisic (1-0), 51' Sabbe (1-1), 61' Reijnders (2-1), 71' Reijnders (3-1)