Club goes down 0-2 against Benfica

Club Brugge was unable to continue its excellent Champions League campaign. Blauw-Zwart went down 0-2 against Benfica in the 1/8th finals at home. Club therefore faces a difficult task to qualify for the quarterfinals on March 7 in Lisbon.

Blauw-Zwart started the historic match in the Champions League with two changes compared to Friday's match against Union: Denis Odoi replaced Mats Rits in midfield, while up front Kamal Sowah was preferred to Roman Yaremchuk. The Ghanaian took charge of the right flank, leaving Noa Lang to play as a false nine. Benfica had made quite an impression in the group stage in a group with PSG and Juventus, and wanted to show themselves right away against Club as well. Gonçalo Ramos had a free header chance early on, but Mignolet saved easily.

The Bridge players were unimpressed and played free and clear. Buchanan rushed past everyone on the left, but aimed straight at goalkeeper Vlachodimos from a sharp angle. Noa Lang also felt in his element: after a clever slalom, the Dutchman's shot whizzed over goal. After a quarter of an hour, another good opportunity followed: Vanaken just couldn't reach a low cross from Meijer and then Lang's rebound was blocked.

Halfway through the first half, Club had to slow down the pace and the Portuguese started to play more and more: Ramos just couldn't reach a sharp cross, an attempt by Aursnes went wide and a deviation by Sowah caprized just over own goal via Hendry. Benfica looked increasingly close to the opening goal: an Antonio Silva header went over goal, while Rafa Silva found first the post and then Mignolet in his path. Gonçalo Ramos was also unable to frame his header moments later. The Bruges defense cracked but did not break. On the contrary: on the stroke of halftime Odoi was even able to head in a free kick from Lang. However, the goal was disallowed for offside.

After the break, Benfica immediately went in search of a goal. It soon came close too, but Gonçalo Ramos diverted a free kick wide of goal. It turned out to be just a stay of execution. Hendry came just too late with his tackle on Ramos, causing Italian ref Massa to point to the spot. Simon Mignolet almost saved Joao Mario's eleven-meter effort, but the ball went in via his fingertips and the underside of the crossbar.

A big disappointment for Club that had been holding up well until then. Benfica took a step back after that goal, but Bruges did not get beyond sterile pressure. Blue-Black often combined well, but proved impotent in front of goal. Sowah, among others, tried a cross in front of goal, but without success. A corner kick by Lang was also cleared just before the goal line. In between, an attempt by Chiquinho went over goal via a Bridge leg.

Scott Parker still threw Nielsen and Jutglà into the fray, but it didn't do much good. Instead, it was Benfica that finished it off. First a shot by Joao Mario went wide, but after a loss by Meijer, David Neres scored the 0-2. A second goal by the Brazilian was disallowed, while a long-range shot by Guedes went just wide. 0-2, which means Club will need a big stunt to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Champions League on March 7.

Champions League - 1/8th final (away)
Spectators: 29,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Davide Massa (Ita)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Jack Hendry, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Denis Odoi (65' Casper Nielsen), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Kamal Sowah (79' Ferran Jutglà), Noa Lang, Tajon Buchanan. Bench: Josef Bursik, Mats Rits, Dedryck Boyata, Antonio Nusa, Roman Yaremchuk, Abakar Sylla and Cisse Sandra. Coach: Scott Parker.
SL Benfica: Odisseas Vlachodimos - Alexander Bah, Antonio Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, Alejandro Grimaldo - Joao Mario (92' Joao Neves), Chiquinho, Rafa Silva (65' David Neres), Florentino Luis, Fredrik Aursnes - Gonçalo Ramos (65' Gonçalo Guedes). Coach: Roger Schmidt.
Yellow cards: Odoi, Sowah, Otamendi.
Red cards: none
Goals: 51' Joao Mario (penalty, 0-1), 88' Neres (0-2).