Club goes down 4-1 at PSG

Club Brugge's European adventure is over. Blauw-Zwart went down 4-1 in the last group game of the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain. Kylian Mbappé hit two goals early on and Lionel Messi made the decision before halftime. Mats Rits was able to counter, but Messi again scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-1.

The Bruges starting line-up underwent four changes compared to Saturday's game against Seraing. Stanley Nsoki took the place of Brandon Mechele at center back, while in midfield Mats Rits, Éder Balanta and Hans Vanaken rejoined the team. Charles De Ketelaere moved forward another row as a result. In addition to Mechele, Ruud Vormer, Noah Mbamba and Bas Dost also dropped out of the starting lineup. Cisse Sandra - who crowned his strong game on Saturday with a goal - reappeared at the kickoff. At Paris Saint-Germain, coach Maurico Pochettino opted for the attacking trio of Di Maria, Messi and Mbappé.

To still finish third and qualify for the Europa League, Blue-Black had to do better in Paris than RB Leipzig did on their own field against Manchester City. However, Bruges' hopes were nipped in the bud after just one minute. Mignolet parried a shot by Nuno Mendes, but the ball fell unhappily to the feet of Kylian Mbappé, who kicked the leather into goal via the far post. Immediately afterwards Mignolet saved an effort by Wijnaldum, but after seven minutes he had to concede again: Di Maria spooned the ball over the Bruges defense and Mbappé kicked the leather in one time.

A heavy blow for Club, which did go in search of the tying goal. De Ketelaere and Lang were unable to reach Sandra twice, but Vanaken was able to do so. However, the 17-year-old's shot was parried by Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper later also went well flat on a fine shot by Rits. Mignolet also had to make a few saves, including on shots by Di Maria and Messi, while Nsoki and Mata were able to block attempts by Wijnaldum and Messi. Shortly before half-time, however, it was 3-0: Mbappé served Messi, who kicked the ball from the edge of the penalty area into the goal. Shortly after, Mbappé popped the leather over the crossbar.

After the break, the Brugge side went in emphatic search of a goal. The first danger came from Mats Rits, but after a cross from Lang, the Antwerp player headed the crossbar. Moments later, De Ketelaere's volley was headed straight at Donnarumma. The best chance for Club was for Noa Lang: the Dutchman cut inside and targeted the short corner, but his shot was cleared out of goal by Donnarumma.

The home team responded with two attempts by Di Maria, but still it was Club that was able to score midway through the second half. After a clever move, Lang served Mats Rits, who fired the 3-1 low into goal. For PSG it was the signal to press the gas pedal again. Mignolet had to save a shot by Mbappé. A quarter of an hour before time, however, the Bruges goalkeeper had to concede a fourth time. The substitute Van der Brempt tapped Lionel Messi in the sixteen meters and so referee Manzano pointed to the spot. Messi converted the penalty himself, putting the 4-1 on the board.

In the closing stages, the Brugge side tried to score a second time, but a hard shot by Mata went over goal and Ruud Vormer was also unable to frame his free kick. So it remained 4-1, ending Blauw-Zwart's European adventure. Even a win at the Parc des Princes would not have been enough, as RB Leipzig themselves won at home against Manchester City.

Champions League: Group A - Playday 6
Spectators: 47,000 - Parc des Princes
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spa)
Paris Saint-Germain: Gianluigi Donnarumma - Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Abdou Diallo, Nuno Mendes (49' Thilo Kehrer) - Georginio Wijnaldum, Marco Verratti (83' Eric-Junior Dina Ebimbe), Idrissa Gueye (71' Leandro Paredes) - Angel Di Maria (71' Ander Herrera), Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé (83' Mauro Icardi). Coach: Mauricio Pochettino.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Jack Hendry, Stanley Nsoki, Federico Ricca - Mats Rits (69' Ruud Vormer), Éder Balanta (69' Noah Mbamba), Hans Vanaken - Cisse Sandra (56' Ignace Van der Brempt), Charles De Ketelaere, Noa Lang. Bench: Senne Lammens, Eduard Sobol, Wesley Moraes, Owen Otasowie, Faitout Maouassa, Kamal Sowah, José Izquierdo, Bas Dost and Brandon Mechele. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Yellow cards: Kehrer, Lang, Mbappé.
Red cards: none
Goals: 2' Mbappé (1-0), 7' Mbappé (2-0), 38' Messi (3-0), 68' Rits (3-1), 76' Messi (penalty, 4-1).

Text: Steven Floin