Club Brugge have started the 2023-24 campaign in the Jupiler Pro League with a 1-1 draw against KV Mechelen. Blauw-Zwart dominated the first half, but a Schoofs free-kick handed the visitors the lead. After the break Igor Thiago fired home the equaliser from the penalty spot, but when Club was down to ten men it couldn't find the winner to keep the three points home.
Ronny Deila made no changes to the team that had beaten Aarhus 3-0 on Thursday. In the opening minutes Buchanan whipped in a good cross, but Vanlerberghe headed away just in time in front of Thiago. Shortly after Skov Olsen tried to sent the Brazilian through on goal, but Thiago just couldn't take the ball with him. Fifteen minutes into the game Hans Vanaken saw his effort take a deflection and go wide, a few moments later the ball just evaded him when he tried to intercept Schoofs' header towards his own goalkeeper Coucke.
Club forced Mechelen into their own half and just before the half-hour mark Blauw-Zwart created a glut of chances to break the deadlock. Onyedika struck the post and Skov Olsen forced Coucke into making a save. Shortly after the Dane limped off with an injury. Michał Skóraś came on and he immediately played the ball through to Buchanan. The Canadian went down after a duel with Bolingoli, but referee Bert Put let play continue.
Ten minutes before the half-time whistle Mats Rits won possession high up the pitch, but missed in a one on one with Coucke. Instead of taking the lead, it was Mechelen that opened the scoring when Rob Schoofs surprised Mignolet with a free-kick. Club tried to set things straight before the break, but Nusa and Onyedika hammered their shots over the crossbar. On the stroke of half-time Mignolet parried away Vanlerberghe's powerful effort.
Club made a quick start to the second half. Inside the first minute Nusa linked up with Vanaken, who threaded a pass through to the Norwegian but Coucke did well to keep out the 18-year-old's effort. Shortly after Mechele headed wide and Rits' strike went over the crossbar. Club kept the pressure high, but De Cuyper couldn't convert Buchanan's cut-back.
Twenty minutes into the second half Igor Thiago was pulled down inside the penalty box. The referee didn't react, but pointed to the penalty spot after an on field review. The Brazilian stepped up and slammed it hard past Coucke. Blauw-Zwart played with the handbrake off now and upped the pressure on Malinwa. Coucke tipped away Skóraś' shot, Spileers headed just wide off the target and Vanaken steered a Vetlesen cross into the side-netting.
Club's high pressure gave Mechelen the chance to be dangerous on the break. With fifteen minutes left on the clock Lauberbach went through on goal, but the attacker scuffed his finish wide. A few minutes later the German tried to break free again, but this time he was stopped by De Cuyper who was shown a second yellow card. Blauw-Zwart had to end the game with ten men. After Thursday's game against Aarhus, the energy levels dropped and apart from a Vermant volley, Club failed to create another good chance. Mechelen tried to profit from their numerical advantage via Lauberbach and Vanlerberghe, but the 1-1 score stayed on the board.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 1
Attendance: 25.000 – Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Bert Put
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Mats Rits (60’ Hugo Vetlesen), Raphael Onyedika (81’ Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (32’ Michal Skóraś), Igor Thiago (81’ Romeo Vermant), Antonio Nusa (81’ Bjorn Meijer). Bench: Nick Shinton en Denis Odoi. Coach: Ronny Deila.
KV Mechelen: Gaëtan Coucke - Daam Foulon (76’ Alec Van Hoorenbeeck), Jordi Vanlerberghe, Dimitri Lavalée, Boli Bolingoli (55’ Rafik Belghali) - Ngal'ayel Mukau (76’ David Bates), Kerim Mrabti, Rob Schoofs - Julien Ngoy (69’ Geoffry Hairemans), Lion Lauberbach, Nikola Storm. Coach: Steven Defour.
Yellow cards: Ngoy, Foulon.
Red cards: 77’ De Cuyper (2x yellow).
Goals: 38’ Schoofs (0-1), 65’ Thiago (penalty, 1-1).
