Club Brugge passed the first official assignment of the season with flying colors. Blue-Black won 3-0 against Denmark's Aarhus on their own field, forcing an excellent starting position in the second preliminary round of the Conference League. Buchanan, Rits and debutant Vetlesen scored the Bruges goals.
Ronny Deila made one change compared to the team that lost Saturday's Bruges Metten against AZ: Antonio Nusa was favored at left forward over Michal Skoras. As a result, Igor Thiago was the only newcomer to kick off. Blue-Black immediately grabbed the Danes by the throat and after just over a minute of play they had one hell of a chance. After a cross from Buchanan, Vanaken appeared alone in front of Hansen, but the goalkeeper saved. Onyedika then popped the rebound straight at the Danish goalie. Moments later Buchanan again passed his opponent like an express train, but this time his cross was just cleared.
Club and especially Tajon Buchanan started the game strongly and after ten minutes the Canadian got reward for his efforts. After an action by Skov Olsen, the ball rolled to the feet of Buchanan, who delightfully popped the 1-0 into the roof of the goal. The Danes saw star power against the Bruges right flank, as Skov Olsen also regularly put his man in the wind. After just under twenty minutes, the Dane cut inside well, but his peg was saved in two times by Hansen.
Despite the deficit, the visitors continued to play well organized, but they were unable to create their own chances. Aarhus got no further in the first half than a blocked shot by the South African left back. The Bridge visitors were able to create two more chances of their own: after a cross from Skov Olsen, Thiago was unable to reach the ball, and moments later Hansen saved a shot by Nusa.
After the break, Club immediately stepped up a gear, and that soon paid off. After a few minutes, Thiago put the ball back in the hands of Mats Rits, who popped the 2-0 into the goal. Immediately afterwards, a beautiful attack followed over many stations: after a cross from Buchanan, Thiago popped the leather against the crossbar in one go and then Vanaken's rebound was cleared on the line. Barely a minute later, an effort by Skov Olsen went wide via a visiting leg.
Visiting coach Rösler then made a triple substitution, but it did not change the game picture. Club clearly remained in control and went in search of more goals. Nusa cut inside, but his shot towards the far corner was saved by Hansen. The Danish goalkeeper then also saved a header by Vanaken, who himself released De Cuyper moments later. The left back, however, just couldn't print.
Fifteen minutes before time, Hugo Vetlesen and Michal Skóras also made their debuts for Blauw-Zwart. For the Norwegian it was a debut in style, as he was able to score just two minutes after his debut. A cross from Odoi rolled to the feet of Vetlesen, who delightfully took the leather on the slipper in one go. In the closing stages, the game literally and figuratively diluted. Just before the start of injury time, Thiago had a header chance, but goalkeeper Hansen saved. In the rebound, Skov Olsen's attempt went over goal. It remained 3-0 and Blauw-Zwart can travel to Denmark next week with a good starting position.
UEFA Europa Conference League - Second preliminary round (away)
Spectators: 18.925 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Geo)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan (74' Denis Odoi), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper (74' Bjorn Meijer) - Mats Rits (74' Hugo Vetlesen), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (90' Casper Nielsen), Igor Thiago, Antonio Nusa (74' Michal Skóras). Bench: Nick Shinton, Joel Ordóñez, Kyriani Sabbe, Romeo Vermant and Shion Homma. Coach: Ronny Deila.
AGF Aarhus: Jesper Hansen - Tobias Mølgaard, Frederik Tingager, Thomas Kristensen - Felix Beijmo (72' Michael Akoto), Nicolai Poulsen, Mads Emil Madsen (55' Mikael Andersson), Gift Links (55' Eric Kahl) - Tobias Bech (55' Mikkel Duelund), Patrick Mortensen, Magnus Knudsen (79' Frederik Bandhof). Coach: Uwe Rösler.
Yellow cards: Mechele, Mølgaard, Kristensen.
Red cards: none
Goals: 10' Buchanan (1-0), 48' Rits (2-0), 76' Vetlesen (3-0).
