Club goes down 3-0 at Dortmund

Club Brugge did not manage to stunt against Borussia Dortmund. The Germans proved a size too big and inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Blauw-Zwart. Haaland (2) and Sancho fielded the verdict.

The Bruges starting line-up underwent three changes compared to Saturday's match against Kortrijk. At center back, Odilon Kossounou was given preference over Brandon Mechele, while in midfield Éder Balanta replaced Mats Rits. Up front, Michael Krmenčík started as the deepest striker. The Czech striker took the place of Badji. Due to the absence of Sobol and Ricca, Charles De Ketelaere again played as left back.

Blue-Black earned a 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund two years ago, but back then Erling Haaland was not running in the striker's box there. The Norwegian gave his calling card already in the first minute with a shot that went a meter wide. Club responded with a fine chance for Krmenčík, but the Czech was offside. The Germans were not impressed and went in search of the opening goal. A deflection by Guerreiro initially went wide, but a little later the 1-0 was a fact: Haaland slipped through the offside trap and kicked the 1-0 into the goal via the inside of the post.

Brugge tried to react immediately, but after a deflection by Mata, Vormer kicked the ball just wide. The young Dortmund force kept pushing and came closer and closer to the 2-0: Deli was just able to clear a Hazard cross, Reyna's shot went over goal and Mignolet parried a Delaney shot. Club seemed to be holding out, but that was beyond Jadon Sancho. The Englishman curled a free kick into the top corner, leaving Club two goals behind at halftime.

After the break, Blauw-Zwart went in search of the tying goal, but it was the Germans who created danger. Sancho first aimed at Mignolet and then Haaland could not frame two attempts. Club had more ball possession in the second half and also created a fine chance on the hour: after a sharp cross from De Ketelaere, Vormer came a toe length too short to push in the 2-1.

Just when the Bridge goalkeepers manifested themselves more, Haaland provided the final decision. Vormer played the ball unhappily into the feet of the Norwegian striker, who kicked the 3-0 hard into the far corner. Mignolet then had to save another Haaland chance, while the Bruges goalkeeper also managed to keep out a Hazard shot.

Philippe Clement threw in Badji, Okereke and Schrijvers after Rits, but Club could no longer make a fist. The last chance was for Emre Can, who curled it wide of the far post. Borussia Dortmund proved to be too big and so Blauw-Zwart went down 3-0. Club remains stuck on 4 points and plays next week a crucial match at home against Zenit.

Champions League: Group F - matchday 4
Spectators: none - Signal Iduna Park
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Borussia Dortmund: Roman Bürki - Thomas Meunier (73' Mateu Morey), Manuel Akanji, Mats Hummels, Raphael Guerreiro (80' Felix Passlack) - Jude Bellingham, Thomas Delaney (72' Emre Can) - Giovanni Reyna (81' Julian Brandt), Jadon Sancho, Thorgan Hazard - Erling Haaland (81' Marco Reus). Coach: Lucien Favre.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Odilon Kossounou, Simon Deli, Charles De Ketelaere - Ruud Vormer, Éder Balanta (52' Mats Rits), Hans Vanaken - Noa Lang (74' Siebe Schrijvers), Michael Krmenčík (66' Youssouph Badji), Krépin Diatta (74' David Okereke). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Ignace Van der Brempt, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper and Nathan Fuakala. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Yellow cards: Zipper.
Red cards: none
Goals: 18' Haaland (1-0), 45' Sancho (2-0), 60' Haaland (3-0).

Text: Steven Floin