Club Brugge won the topper against Antwerp 1-0. Blauw-Zwart had most of the ball possession, but they had to search for openings for a long time. It was finally Gustaf Nilsson who gave Club the three points via a penalty ten minutes before time.
Bruges' starting lineup underwent two changes compared to last week's game at Genk. Joaquin Seys replaced Hugo Siquet at right back, while up front Christos Tzolis replaced Antonio Nusa, who left for RB Leipzig. Seys played against his foot on the right, but that did not stop him from being the first to create danger. His shot, however, was blocked by former Bruges player Odoi. Moments later, an attempt by Onyedika was also blocked. At the other end, Mignolet had to save Chery's shot.
The best chance fell on the quarter-hour mark: Seys painted a cross onto Nilsson's head, but the Swede's header hit the crossbar via Lammens' fingertips. Soon after, a shot by Tzolis went over goal. The Bridge goalkeepers then loosened their grip, allowing Antwerp to counter a few times: Mignolet parried a shot by Kerk and also had a fine save to make when Janssen kicked a deep pass from Ondrejka towards goal in one go. Shortly past the half-hour mark, Kerk extended an Alderweireld header from close range over goal.
In the closing quarter of the first half, Blauw-Zwart again took command. First Nilsson could not extend a cross from Tzolis into goal and then a shot from the Swede went into the side netting. A cross from De Cuyper was also cleared just in front of Nilsson. On the stroke of half-time, Club cobbled together a fine attack via Vanaken and Tzolis, but the visitors' defense was just able to clear the ball away. Then, when Skov Olsen did get some space to strike, Lammens went flat.
After the break, the first danger again came from Club: De Cuyper launched Tzolis with the outside left and then got the ball back from the Greek. However, his shot whizzed just over the crossbar. Immediately afterwards Antwerp broke out on the counter, but Ondrejka's attempt went over goal. On the other side, Nilsson took a deep pass from Vetlesen well, but Alderweireld was still in the way, preventing the striker from concluding.
Nicky Hayen then threw Jutglà into the fray, but it was Antwerp that suddenly caused danger again. Janssen suddenly seemed to get a shot, but the Dutchman was offside. Immediately after that, Chery was unable to capitalize on a cross from the left at the far post. Then Siquet and Vermant came on and that turned out to be a golden change. Ten minutes before time, Lammens saved a shot by De Cuyper, but Vermant took the rebound well and was brought down in the sixteen meters by Doumbia. Referee D'Hondt pointed to the spot and that allowed Gustaf Nilsson to score his very first goal for Club Brugge.
That goal seemed to give the Swedish striker wings: first his steely blast whizzed over goal via Lammens' fingertips and immediately after that he could not frame his header. Antwerp tried to equalize, but had to continue with a few minutes less when Denis Odoi picked up his second yellow card. It was Club that finally scored, but the goal by substitute Michał Skóraś was disallowed due to offside.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 4
Spectators: 26,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lothar D'Hondt
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (75' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Hugo Vetlesen (75' Romeo Vermant), Raphael Onyedika (82' Ardon Jashari), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (82' Michał Skóraś), Gustaf Nilsson, Christos Tzolis (64' Ferran Jutglà). Bank: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Jorne Spileers and Chemsdine Talbi. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Royal Antwerp FC: Senne Lammens - Jelle Bataille, Toby Alderweireld, Zeno Van Den Bosch, Denis Odoi - Mandela Keita, Tjaronn Chery (78' Christopher Scott), Mahamadou Doumbia (87' Jairo Riedewald) - Gyrano Kerk (65' Anthony Valencia), Vincent Janssen, Jacob Ondrejka. Coach: Jonas De Roeck.
Yellow cards: Doumbia, Odoi, Nilsson, Van Den Bosch.
Red cards: 87' Odoi (2x yellow).
Goals: 81' Nilsson (penalty, 1-0).