Club plays 1-1 draw against Lazio

Club Brugge started the Champions League 4 out of 6. After last week's win over Zenit, they stuck to a 1-1 draw at home against Lazio Roma. The Italians took an early lead through Correa, but Hans Vanaken equalized on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot. After the break, Club created numerous chances, but the deserved winning goal was not forthcoming.

Simon Mignolet and Odilon Kossounou were ready again after their corona infection, and started immediately. Simon Deli - back from injury - was also allowed to start. Horvath, Mechele and Ricca therefore disappeared from the starting lineup. Captain Ruud Vormer also returned to the team, while up front Clement opted for the same duo as last week against Zenit: Emmanuel Dennis and Charles De Ketelaere. Lang, Schrijvers and Badji consequently had to make do with a place on the bench.

Lazio were missing some of their star players due to injury and Corona, but coach Simone Inzaghi was able to field ten internationals. The Italians started best and created the first danger after five minutes: a shot by Correa did not trouble Mignolet. Club then took control of the match, yet it was the visitors who were able to score. Joaquin Correa cut inside and curled the 0-1 past Mignolet.

That was the signal for Blauw-Zwart to shift up a gear. Halfway through the first half, the chance to equalize was created: a cross from Diatta was cleared at the feet of De Ketelaere, but his effort went inches wide. Club kept the pressure on, but no real chances were created. Still, the Bruges players were able to rest with a deserved draw. After a foul by Patric on Rits, English ref Taylor looked at the footage and pointed to the spot. Hans Vanaken did not hesitate and popped the 1-1 past Reina.

After the break, Club tried to continue on the same lines. De Ketelaere seemed to get an early free-kick towards goal, but he missed his control. An even better chance followed shortly after: Rits launched Dennis, but his effort was parried by Reina. Moments later, De Ketelaere found Vanaken at the far post. His place ball, however, went wide.

On the hour, the Bruges players began to push even harder. However, Reina had a great save on a header by Rits. Immediately afterwards, Club missed the 2-1 by a hair: Dennis just couldn't reach a fine cross from Diatta, and at the far post, Sobol took the ball wide of the goal mouth. Vanaken also failed to score moments later. The only thing Lazio could do in return was a Milinkovic-Savic header that went over the goal.

Fifteen minutes before time, an excellent chance for the visitors suddenly fell out of the sky: Milinkovic-Savic suddenly appeared free in front of goal, but Mignolet made himself well wide. The last two chances were for Club, but the deserved winning goal did not materialize. First Vormer could not frame his effort from close range and then a deflected shot by De Ketelaere stranded on the roof of the goal. So it remained 1-1, allowing Blauw-Zwart to enter the Champions League with 4 out of 6. It is in the lead with Lazio in Group F.

Champions League: Group F - Playday 2
Spectators: none - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Eng)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Odilon Kossounou, Simon Deli - Krépin Diatta, Ruud Vormer, Mats Rits, Hans Vanaken, Eduard Sobol - Emmanuel Dennis (88' Michael Krmenčík), Charles De Ketelaere (83' Noa Lang). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Éder Balanta, Siebe Schrijvers, Federico Ricca, David Okereke, Youssouph Badji and Brandon Mechele. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Lazio Roma: Pepe Reina - Patric (46' Andreas Pereira), Wesley Hoedt, Francesco Acerbi - Adam Marusic, Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro, Marco Parolo, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Mohamed Fares (56' Vedat Muriqi) - Joaquín Correa, Felipe Caicedo (68' Szymon Czyz). Coach: Simone Inzaghi.
Yellow cards: Diatta, Fares, Patric, Hoedt, Akpa-Akpro, Dennis, Czyz, Rits.
Red cards: none
Goals: 13' Correa (0-1), 42' Vanaken (penalty, 1-1).

Text: Steven Floin