Club Brugge qualified for the Conference League group stage after a nerver wracking rollercoaster of a game. Blauw-Zwart were 0-2 down after seventy minutes, but clawed back in a matter of minutes through Thiago and Skov Olsen. Thanks to last week's win in Spain, this 2-2 is enough for the qualification.
Ronny Deila wrote down the same eleven names on the tactical board as last week when Club won 1-2 in Pamplona, and just like last week both sides played with the handbrake off from the start. After just one minute Skov Olsen feeded the ball to Zinckernagel, but he scuffed his finish wide and De Cuyper saw his shot go across goal. In between those chances Osasuna responded through Moncayola who's rasping drive flew a meter wide.
Club dominated and was close to opening the score midway the first half. After a good attacking move Vetlesen squared it to Vanaken, but Herrera kept out the captain's effort. At the other end Avila saw a shot go wide and Mignolet came to the rescue to tip a header from underneath the crossbar. The following corner kick found Johan Mojica on the edge of the box, putting it in the far corner.
Club wanted the equalizer before the interval. Zinckernagel's goalbound curling finish towards the top corner was palmed away by Herrera. The best chance was for Maxim De Cuyper, but the left full-back thundering strike hammered the post. Immediately afterwards, Thiago headed a corner kick from close range over the crossbar, leaving Club behind at the break.
After the break, Brandon Mechele, booked early on in the game, made way for Dedryck Boyata, and it seemed a golden move as the central defender headed in the equaliser, but the flag was up. Instead of turning it 1-1, it
Club was now suddenly faced with an arduous task, but it did not give up. First, Thiago could go through alone, but his attempt - from offside - went over goal via a Spanish foot. Moments later, the Brazilian was able to push forward again, but this time his attempt went wide. Third time lucky, as it turned out: after a corner kick by De Cuyper, Igor Thiago headed the ball into goal at the far post. Jan Breydel was shaking on its foundations and that immediately gave the team an extra boost. With success, because a few minutes later it was 2-2. Andreas Skov Olsen snatched the leather from his opponent and curled the equalizer delightfully into goal!
Blauw-Zwart turned things around in three minutes, leaving Osasuna no other choice than to go out and find a third goal. This gave Club more options to hit Los Rojillos on the break. Vanaken's searching pass reached Thiago and his brilliant strike hit the far post. In stoppage time Thiago just couldn't turn in a Vanaken cross, while Nusa skied his finish following a brilliant solo run from our own penalty box. The last chance was for Osasuna, but Jan Breydel let out a sigh of relief as Oroz saw his effort hobble wide.
It remained 2-2 and Club Brugge qualified for the Conference League group stage.
UEFA Europa Conference League – Play-off (second leg)
Attendance: 25,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Daniel Stefanski (Pol)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan (71’ Antonio Nusa), Brandon Mechele (46’ Dedryck Boyata), Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Hugo Vetlesen (95’ Denis Odoi), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (78’ Kyriani Sabbe), Igor Thiago, Philip Zinckernagel.
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Joel Ordóñez, Michal Skóras, Ferran Jutglà, Eder Balanta en Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
CA Osasuna: Sergio Herrera – Ruben Peña (68’ Jesus Areso), Alejandro Catena, David Garcia, Juan Cruz (82’ Raul Garcia) – Jon Moncayola, Lucas Torro (82’ Kike Barja), Moi Gomez – Ezequiel Avila (68’ Ruben Garcia), Ante Budimir, Johan Mojica. Coach: Jagoba Arrasate.
Yellow: Mechele, De Cuyper, Avila, Skov Olsen, Gomez, Moncayola, Herrera, Vetlesen, Thiago, Mojica, Garcia, Mignolet.
Red cards: none
Goals: 27’ Mojica (1-0), 53’ Budimir (0-2), 73’ Thiago (1-2), 76’ Skov Olsen (2-2).
