Club Brugge recorded a smooth 4-0 victory against Eupen on their own field. Nielsen and Jutglà quickly gave Blauw-Zwart a double lead, while Skov Olsen and Mechele provided the final decision fifteen minutes before time.
Because of the suspensions of Vanaken and Thiago, and the injuries of Vetlesen and Zinckernagel, Ronny Deila had to puzzle a lot. Moreover, Onyedika was still at the Africa Cup, although De Cuyper and Nusa were deployable again. Both players were immediately dropped into the starting lineup, while Michał Skóraś also appeared at the kickoff. Nusa replaced Vanaken in midfield, while Jutglà moved into the center of attack.
The Bruges players immediately took control and threatened early on with a header from Jutglà. However, Blauw-Zwart had to watch out for Eupen's nimble strikers: Nuhu cleverly launched Charles-Cook, but temporary captain Mignolet was just a bit earlier on the ball. Club was warned and immediately stepped up a gear: a shot by Nielsen was deflected over goal by Jutglà, while Nusa was also unable to capitalize on a pass from Skóraś. Bruges' attacking drive produced results after fifteen minutes: after a fine move by Nusa, the ball went via Möhwald to Casper Nielsen, who slammed the 1-0 in from close range.
The visitors tried to respond through Möhwald and Pantovic, but it was Blauw-Zwart that came closer and closer to the 2-0: a header by Balanta went wide, Davidson was able to head a Skóraś cross just in front of Skov Olsen, while Jutglà missed his shot after a corner kick. On the half hour it worked: after an action by Nusa, Nielsen targeted the far corner, his shot was saved by Slonina, but Jutglà had followed well and popped the 2-0 into the roof of the goal. In the closing stages of the first half, Skóraś just failed to reach Jutglà and Mechele headed a De Cuyper free kick over goal.
After the break, Eupen immediately tried to counter, but Mignolet was on hand. Club remained clearly in control, though, and looked increasingly emphatically for a third goal. Skóraś could not frame his attempt, a free kick by De Cuyper went over goal and a cross by Skóraś was acrobatically deflected over goal by Jutglà. At the other end, Eupen also created some danger, but Charles-Cook kicked the ball wide.
On the hour Blauw-Zwart narrowly missed the 3-0: Jutglà cut inside, but his shot went just wide via a defender. Immediately afterwards a hard shot by Meijer whizzed over the crossbar. A quarter of an hour before time, Skóraś sent Skov Olsen deep, who cut inside and kicked the 3-0 perfectly into the far corner. Immediately afterwards a shot by Skóraś was blocked, but two minutes later it was already 4-0. After a cross from De Cuyper, Brandon Mechele headed the leather into the far corner.
In the closing stages, Ronny Deila gave playing minutes to Barberá and Homma, while Ivorian defender Bi Abdoul Kader Yameogo also made his debut for Blauw-Zwart. The last chance was for Sabbe, who had also been substituted, but his shot went wide. Union's draw against Westerlo allowed Club Brugge to make up some ground. Blauw-Zwart now has fifteen points less than the Brusselers.
Jupiler Pro League - Match day 25
Spectators: 26,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Jan Boterberg
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Maxim De Cuyper, Jorne Spileers (85' Bi Abdoul Kader Yameogo), Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer (79' Kyriani Sabbe) - Casper Nielsen, Éder Balanta (79' Denis Odoi), Antonio Nusa (79' Víctor Barberá) - Andreas Skov Olsen, Ferran Jutglà (85' Shion Homma), Michał Skóraś. Bench: Joe Bursik, Nordin Jackers and Dedryck Boyata. Coach: Ronny Deila.
KAS Eupen: Gabriel Slonina - Rune Paeshuyse ( 68' Yentl Van Genechten), Victor Pálsson, Aleksandr Filin, Jason Davidson - Gary Magnée (29' Amadou Keita), Boris Lambert (68' Brandon Baiye), Kevin Möhwald (81' Alfred Finnbogason), Milos Pantovic (68' Shayne Pattynama) - Isaac Nuhu, Regan Charles-Cook. Coach: Florian Kohfeldt.
Yellow cards: Filin, Baiye.
Red cards: none
Goals: 14' Nielsen (1-0), 30' Jutglà (2-0), 75' Skov Olsen (3-0), 78' Mechele (4-0).
