Club Brugge has become national champions for the nineteenth time! After an incredibly exciting game against Cercle Brugge, the city derby ended 0-0 and that was enough for Blauw-Zwart to crown themselves champions!
Thanks to last week's victory against Anderlecht, Club Brugge had played itself into pole position. Blauw-Zwart counted three points ahead of title rivals Union and Anderlecht and therefore needed just one point to take its nineteenth national title. Club had to do without coach Nicky Hayen, who received two yellow cards against Anderlecht and was suspended. Assistant Michiel Jonckheere did the honors. The Bruges starting line-up underwent one change compared to the game against Anderlecht: Andreas Skov Olsen came into the team to the detriment of Casper Nielsen, leaving Hugo Vetlesen in his usual midfield position.
The match started in a swirling Jan Breydel at high intensity, but with few clear-cut chances. The first danger came after twelve minutes through Denkey, but the top marksman's shot went wide. Blauw-Zwart then threatened via several corner kicks. One of them was close: after Warleson missed, Jutglà deviated the ball with his thigh towards goal, but Ravych was able to clear the ball spectacularly with his heel on the goal line. On the half hour, another chance followed through Vanaken, but his volley whizzed over the crossbar.
Cercle continued to play soccer in its well known style with a lot of intensity and got better in the match. Ten minutes before the break, Cercle threatened twice: a header by Popovic went wide and a shot by Somers went over the goal. At the other end, Jutglà seemed to be in a promising position, but the Spaniard could not get past Daland. The last danger of the first half came through Skov Olsen, who saw his shot go wide.
Union and Anderlecht were leading at halftime, so Club knew what it had to do: get at least one point to play champion. At the start of the second half, Blauw-Zwart shifted up a gear and created some good chances. For example, Skóraś picked out a low cross, but both Jutglà and Skov Olsen just couldn't reach it. Immediately after, Warleson had two excellent saves on shots by De Cuyper and Vanaken. Moments later, Vetlesen was unable to complete a fine solo: the Norwegian's shot whizzed over the cross. On the other side, Denkey hit the side netting, while a shot by Lemaréchal went over goal.
It remained unusually tense, but ten minutes before time fate seemed to strike. After a free kick by Siquet, Cercle seemed to be able to stuff the ball into the goal, but Odoi just managed to work it in. The ball seemed to have crossed the goal line, but on the signal of the VAR, referee Lardot reviewed the images. The ball had crossed the line, but Siquet's free kick showed a Cercles player to be offside. Club got off scot-free, but of course it remained a nail-biter until the final seconds.
As Genk went down to Union, Cercle had enough of a point and so both teams took no more risks in injury time. When ref Lardot blew the whistle after seven minutes of injury time, Jan Breydel exploded! Club Brugge is champion after a great remonte in the Champions' play-offs!
Jupiler Pro League - Champions' Play-offs: matchday 10
Spectators: 29,042 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Hugo Vetlesen (94' Éder Balanta), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (70' Antonio Nusa), Ferran Jutglà, Michał Skóraś (94' Casper Nielsen). Bank: Joe Bursik, Nordin Jackers, Dedryck Boyata, Jorne Spileers, Shion Homma, Kyriani Sabbe, Chemsdine Talbi and Philip Zinckernagel. Coach: Michiel Jonckheere.
Cercle Brugge: Warleson - Christiaan Ravych (75' Hugo Siquet), Boris Popovic, Jesper Daland, Leonardo Lopes Da Silva - Thibo Somers, Hannes Van der Bruggen, Félix Lemaréchal (87' Senna Miangue), Abu Francis (75' Flavio Nazinho), Felipe Da Silva (64' Alan Minda) - Kévin Denkey. Coach: Miron Muslic.
Yellow cards: Odoi.
Red cards: none
Goals: none
