Club Brugge recorded a very handsome 2-1 victory against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. Blauw-Zwart had to chase after only two minutes, but Christos Tzolis equalized midway through the first half with a deviated shot. Club kept fighting and got rewarded five minutes before time when Casper Nielsen smashed in the 2-1.
The Bruges starting lineup underwent four changes compared to the team that won in extremis at KV Mechelen on Saturday. Match-winner Ordóñez returned to the team, while Onyedika also reinstated his starting spot. Spileers and Vetlesen had to settle for a place on the bench. Up front, Jutglà and Tzolis were given preference over Vermant and Talbi. Blauw-Zwart could do an excellent business if they could win, because with ten points they would have a leg and a half in the next round of the Champions League.
Sporting Lisbon had lost the previous three games, but that negative run had clearly not affected the Portuguese's confidence. It monopolized the ball from the kickoff and could actually score after just two minutes: Araújo hit the post, but Catamo was able to tap in the rebound from close range. Moments later, a shot by Quenda went wide. It took more than fifteen minutes before Bruges was able to restore the balance, with first a long-distance shot by Jashari that went wide and then a hard shot by De Cuyper that also went wide.
Club increasingly got a grip on the Portuguese and also equalized after 25 minutes, when a shot by Tzolis flew into goal via Quaresma. Bridge's joy was short-lived, however, as immediately afterwards ref Taylor pointed to the spot when Skov Olsen brought down Araújo. Fortunately for Club, VAR ruled that the foul had happened just outside the penalty area. Gyökeres kicked the free kick just over the crossbar. In the end of the first half, Club came close to scoring two more goals: goalkeeper Israel parried a shot by Skov Olsen and also blocked with his face a fine attempt by Tzolis.
After the break, the first danger came again from Blauw-Zwart. De Cuyper swished the leather in front of goal, but both Vanaken and Skov Olsen were unable to capitalize on his pass. Shortly before the hour, Club narrowly missed the 2-1: Tzolis took advantage with a clever dribble but then popped the leather just wide. Nicky Hayen saw his team increasingly dominating and threw two more assets into the fray with Nilsson and Talbi. The Swedish striker came a toe short to deviate a long-distance shot from Jashari into the goal.
The Bruges players smelled blood and made the Jan Breydel Stadium explode five minutes before time. Nilsson rebounded the ball to Vanaken, who with a brilliant pass launched Casper Nielsen, who had just stepped in. The Dane did not hesitate and popped the 2-1 across. Sporting tried to respond immediately, but Mignolet had no problems with a cracked shot by Trincão. The Portuguese did everything they could to get a point, but Club did not crack. Blauw-Zwart took an important three points. It now counts ten points and takes a big step towards qualification for the play-offs.
UEFA Champions League - Playday 6
Spectators: 25,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Eng)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper (90+1' Kyriani Sabbe) - Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (64' Chemsdine Talbi), Ferran Jutglà (64' Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis (81' Casper Nielsen). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Romeo Vermant and Jorne Spileers. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Sporting Lisbon: Franco Israel - Eduardo Quaresma (45' Jeremiah St Juste), Ousmane Diomande, Matheus Reis - Geny Catamo, Morten Hjulmand, João Simões, Geovany Quenda (87' Conrad Harder) - Maximilano Araújo, Francisco Trincão, Viktor Gyökeres. Coach: Tiago Teixeira.
Yellow cards: Skov Olsen, Gyökeres, Tzolis, Onyedika, Catamo, Mignolet, Araújo, Hjulmand.
Red cards: none
Goals: 3' Catamo (0-1), 24' Quaresma (owngoal, 1-1), 84' Nielsen (2-1).