Club Brugge recorded a very handsome 1-0 win against Aston Villa in the Champions League. Blauw-Zwart played some fine chances in the first half, but the goal finally fell after halftime after a hands ball by Mings. Hans Vanaken took the gift in thanks and scored from the spot. Club did not get into trouble again and took a deserved three points.
Nicky Hayen changed the team that won Saturday in Leuven in three places: Joaquin Seys took the place of Kyriani Sabbe at right back, Casper Nielsen replaced the suspended Onyedika in midfield and up front Ferran Jutglà was preferred to Vermant. The Brugge players were able to create danger after only two minutes, but Tzolis could not reach anyone with his cross from the left. On the other side, Villa could also threaten, but Ordóñez defended strongly at Watkins.
The visitors from Birmingham put up a wall and took no risks in attack. As a result, they initially got no further than distance shots from Tielemans and Rogers. Club also tried their luck through a shot by De Cuyper and a through pass by Ordóñez, which Jutglà just could not reach. The best chance followed after twenty minutes: after Club lost the ball, a shot by Watkins only went inches wide. Moments later, McGinn could not frame his header, while Martinez saved on a distance shot by Ordóñez.
On the half-hour it was Blue-Black that came very close to the opening goal. First a shot by Jutglà went against the post via Martinez' fingertips, and immediately after that the Argentine showed on a shot by Tzolis why he was voted best goalkeeper in the world for the second year in a row. Another two good chances followed five minutes later: a header by Nielsen was swept away just before the goal line by Mings and immediately after that Martinez caught a volley by Jashari in two times. All the English could do in return was a deflected shot by Rogers that went over the crossbar and an effort by McGinn where Mignolet was standing tall.
Club Brugge should have purveyed at least one goal from all those chances and got what it deserved at the start of the second half. Thanks to Tyrone Mings who stupidly touched the ball with his hand in his own sixteen yards. Accordingly, German ref Stieler pointed to the spot. Hans Vanaken accepted the gift and kicked Club into the lead. The visitors seemed to be upset for a moment, because after that Blauw-Zwart had another chance: a cross from De Cuyper was cleared just in front of Skov Olsen and Martinez could easily grab a header from Nielsen.
The Bruges players continued to play with great concentration and in the meantime tried to poke at it from time to time. A shot by Skov Olsen was turned into a corner by an English leg, while another attempt by the Dane flew over the bar. An attempt by substitute Meijer also went wide. At the other end, Maatsen put the ball over the goal and a low slider from Kamara went wide. Aston Villa - leading 9 points to 9 in the Champions League - could not give Club any more problems, so Blauw-Zwart took a well-deserved win. Club thus does an excellent job and now counts six points from four matches.
UEFA Champions League - Playday 4
Spectators: 23,466- Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Ger)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Casper Nielsen (75' Hugo Vetlesen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (72' Chemsdine Talbi), Ferran Jutglà (90' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (75' Bjorn Meijer). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Michał Skóraś, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers and Kyriani Sabbe. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez - Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos (80' Kosta Nedeljkovic), Tyrone Mings (66' Pau Torres), Ian Maatsen -John McGinn (57' Jhon Duran), Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers (66' Jacob Ramsey), Leon Bailey - Ollie Watkins (80' Emiliano Buendia). Coach: Unai Emery.
Yellow cards: Nielsen, Mings, Diego Carlos, Vetlesen, Kamara, Konsa.
Red cards: none
Goals: 52' Vanaken (penalty, 1-0).