Club Brugge played a 1-1 draw against Genk at home. El Khannouss gave the Limburgers the lead on the stroke of half-time, but halfway through the second half Hans Vanaken headed in the deserved equalizer.
The match against Genk was a catch-up game from the fifth match day, which was postponed at the end of August as both Club and Genk were given extra rest in view of their European matches. Ronny Deila opted for the same eleven as Sunday against Anderlecht. The Limburgers got off to the best start and created danger twice in the early stages through Zeqiri: first the Swiss headed a Fadera cross just wide and immediately afterwards De Cuyper was able to clear his attempt.
After ten minutes, Sabbe had to leave with an injury. Denis Odoi was his replacement and he was immediately the basis of Bruges' first chance. The right back painted the leather onto the head of Thiago, but the Brazilian could not hit the ball sufficiently. Genk was not impressed and came threatening again themselves: Mignolet parried a shot by Zeqiri, Fadera curled the leather over the cross and a distance shot by Arteaga flew wide. The Bruges players got better, but crosses from Skov Olsen and Odoi were cleared just in front of Thiago.
Genk continued to apply high pressure and also created danger. A free kick by Zeqiri flew straight at Mignolet, while the goalkeeper also had an excellent foot rebound on a shot by Fadera. Ten minutes before time, a clever attack by Club finally reached Thiago, but the striker took too much time and could not print. De Cuyper's subsequent shot was blocked. Moments later, a shot by Zinckernagel appeared to be deflected by hand, but ref Lardot allowed play to continue. However, the goal fell on the other side: Heynen reached the free El Khannouss at the far post and he tapped in the 0-1. Vetlesen then put his shot just over the crossbar, leaving Club trailing.
After the break, Casper Nielsen replaced Onyedika. Blauw-Zwart immediately went in search of the equalizer, but gritted its teeth against the Genk organization. The first chance after the break came after fifteen minutes, when Paintsil shot straight at Mignolet. Ronny Deila intervened after twenty minutes and replaced Vetlesen and Zinckernagel with Balanta and Jutglà. With success, because a few minutes later the 1-1 was on the board. De Cuyper put the ball in front of goal with the right and there Hans Vanaken was able to head the leather in.
That goal gave Club wings, because immediately afterwards it rained chances: an attempt by Skov Olsen went wide, a shot by De Cuyper caprized through Jutglà on the roof of the goal, an attempt by the same Jutglà stranded right in front of Vandevoordt and a hard shot by Vanaken whizzed over the crossbar.
In the closing stages, Bruges continued to push forward. When Jutglà was able to pass, he handed the ball off instead of shooting himself, while a distance shot by Nielsen flew straight at Vandevoordt. The best chance fell deep into injury time: after a cross from Skóraś, Thiago deviated the ball towards goal, but Hrošovský was able to clear it just before the goal line. The last chance was for Skóraś, but the Pole's shot went over the crossbar. 1-1 so the gap with leader AA Gent remains three points.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 5
Spectators: 26,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (10' Denis Odoi), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers (87' Michał Skóraś), Maxim De Cuyper - Hugo Vetlesen (64' Éder Balanta), Raphael Onyedika (46' Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen, Igor Thiago, Philip Zinckernagel (64' Ferran Jutglà). Bench: Nordin Jackers and Dedryck Boyata. Coach: Ronny Deila.
KRC Genk: Maarten Vandevoordt - Daniel Muñoz, Carlos Cuesta, Mujaid Sadick, Gerardo Arteaga - Bryan Heynen (61' Aziz Ouatarra), Bilal El Khannouss (81' Anouar El Hadj), Patrick Hrošovský - Joseph Paintsil, Andi Zeqiri (57' Tolu Arokodare), Alieu Fadera (81' Christopher Baah). Coach: Wouter Vrancken.
Yellow cards: Hrošovský, Odoi, Nielsen, Skov Olsen, Balanta.
Red cards: none
Goals: 45+1' El Khannouss (0-1), 67' Vanaken (1-1).
