Matchday 26 of the Jupiler Pro League featured the Bruges city derby between Cercle Brugge and Club Brugge. Blauw-Zwart took the lead in the first half through Lang on a pass from Jutglà. Early in the second half Cercle came alongside through Denkey, but Nielsen brought Club to 1-2 with a delightful goal. In the end, the city derby ended in a 2-2 draw after a header goal by Somers.
All news
Bridge city derby ends undecided at 2-2 draw
After the defeat against Benfica Wednesday, coach Parker brought some new names to the kickoff for the derby against Cercle. Mata disappeared to the bench and was replaced on the right side by Odoi. This brought Nielsen back into the squad in midfield. In the center of defense, Sylla once again gained confidence and this time in Hendry's side. A final change occurred in the offensive department, where Jutglà started in the striker position. As a result, Lang moved to his preferred left flank at the expense of Sowah.
It was the home team that started the game brightest and immediately claimed the ball. That resulted in four corner kicks in the first 5 minutes, but Mignolet could not be threatened. That was the case moments later, but Denkey's shot went wide. At minute 10, it was that same key player with a kick from outside the sixteen. The shot was still deviated and Mignolet now had to intervene by tapping the leather wide of his goal. Just after fifteen minutes, Club had their first chance, but Majecki and the post prevented Jutglà from scoring the opening goal. It came a few minutes later. Odoi poked the ball beautifully deep into the path of Jutglà, who in turn served Lang wide. The Dutch winger had but to tap in. There was a brief look at offside, but after VAR intervention, the goal was approved.
Despite the lead, Club did continue to struggle with a cutting Cercle. Another corner kick landed on the head of Ravych, but he headed over. Shortly after, it was up to Mignolet to show his ability. The goalie reacted alertly by saving a shot from an acute angle with his feet. The danger continued to come from the home side, but even Siquet could not outsmart Mignolet with his free kick. He boxed the leather out of his cage. Shortly before halftime, Siquet sent a deep ball in the direction of Somers. Somers kicked immediately from an acute angle, but again the Golden Shoe stood firm. On the stroke of halftime, Club put its nose to the window, but Odoi's header posed no problem for Majecki. Cercle had the last word of the first half, but Deman put the ball high over the goal at the far post. Blauw-Zwart thus went to rest with the smallest difference...
As in the first half, it was again the home team that got off to the best start. Vanhoutte tried his luck with a volley on a dropped ball, but his deflection went wide. After five minutes Cercle did find the way to goal: Somers was sent into the depth and passed the ball in front of goal. There Denkey put the ball in the far corner. Blauw-Zwart had to recover from this blow and the home team smelled its chance. In a messy phase in front of Mignolet's cage, Somers was able to kick, but he shot high over goal. The biggest chance followed a few minutes later where a free kick was swung in front of goal. Daland was able to head in free, but Mignolet had a clever save to prevent the deficit.
Club had to gasp for a moment, but struck mercilessly around minute 70. Nielsen received the ball just outside the penalty area and the Dane curled the ball beautifully into the top corner. Unfortunately, Blauw-Zwart was unable to follow this up positively, as Cercle equalized again moments later. Somers headed the ball into the far corner of the net from a corner kick. Somers remained Cercle's most dangerous man and around minute 85 he forced Mignolet into a fine save with an angled shot. Meanwhile, both coaches made heavy substitutions, but this did not immediately create additional danger.
Deep in added time, Yaremchuk tried once from outside the box, but his shot was not hard enough and too central to worry Majecki. Consequently, no more goals were scored and both teams share the points. Next week awaits the topper at home against KAA Gent.
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 26
Spectators: 15,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Cercle Brugge: Radoslaw Majecki - Boris Popovic, Jesper Daland, Christiaan Ravych - Hugo Siquet (80' Emilio Kehrer), Charles Vanhoutte (80' Dino Hotic), Abu Francis, Olivier Deman - Thibo Somers (87' Robbe Decostere), Kévin Denkey (83' Hannes Van Der Bruggen), Ayase Ueda.
Bank: Warleson, Robbe Decostere, Jean Marcelin, Dino Hotic, Hannes Van Der Bruggen, Emilio Kehrer, Yann Gboho.
Coach: Miron Muslic.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi, Jack Hendry, Abakar Sylla (66' Brandon Mechele), Bjorn Meijer (38' Clinton Mata) - Casper Nielsen, Raphael Onyedika (66' Kamal Sowah), Hans Vanaken - Tajon Buchanan (81' Antonio Nusa), Ferran Jutglà (81' Roman Yaremchuk), Noa Lang.
Bench: Josef Bursik, Senne Lammens, Brandon Mechele, Clinton Mata, Mats Rits, Cisse Sandra, Antonio Nusa, Kamal Sowah, Roman Yaremchuk.
Coach: Scott Parker.
Yellow cards: Deman, Odoi, Yaremchuk
Red cards: none
Goals: 18' Lang (0-1), 51' Denkey (1-1), 71' Nielsen (1-2), 78' Somers (2-2)