Club Brugge returns from the Lotto Arena with one point, following the 1-1 draw with Anderlecht. The hosts opened the scoring through Dolberg in the closing minutes of the first half, but Andreas Skov Olsen fired home around the hour mark for Club.
The coach made one change to the team that had started the match against Beşiktaş: Philip Zinckernagel, ill on Thursday, returned to his position on the left-hand side, forcing Michal Skóras on the bench. The hosts started the game lively, but it was Club that created the first chance when a cross from the left was headed through to the unmarked Sabbe, but he mistimed when he wanted to have a go. At the other end a cross bounced from Zinckernagel's foot to his arm, but Lawrence Visser waved the penalty appeal away.
Anderlecht enjoyed more possession, but slowly Club found their feet and took over control of the game and creating a few half chances. Onyedika forced Schmeichel into making a diving save before Vetlesen failed to get his shot on target. Just before the half hour Club had the best chance when Vetlesen's through pass to Skov Olsen was intercepted by Vertonghen and the ball then ended up with De Cuyper, who's strike flew just over the crossbar.
The home side hadn't produced a clear-cut chance, but took the lead with five minutes on the clock. Amuzu's blocked strike ended up in the feet of Sardella who found Dolberg in front of goal and the Dane headed in the opener.
After the break, Blauw-Zwart tried to create more threat with crosses from the flank, but the build-up didn't click into gear. Meanwhile Anderlecht aimed to hit Club on the break and on the hour mark Hazard had time and space to fire at goal, but it went over the crossbar. Blauw-Zwart responsed immediately when Zinckernagel cut inside, feeded the ball to Skov Olsen and the Dane fired it into the bottom far corner: 1-1.
Ronny Deila then brought on Nielsen and Jutglà and later on Boyata, so switching to a more dynamic 3-5-2 formation, but both sides didn't take too many risks which made it hard to create a lot of chances. A long-distance strike from Skov Olsen was an easy catch for Schmeichel, for Anderlecht Dreyer's attempt went wide. A cross from Nielsen was dealt with by the home defence.
In the closing stages Club upped the pressure again. After a great counterattacking move Thiago sidefooted the ball towards the bottom corner, but it took a deflection on Debast. Moments later Spileers skied his finish and Nielsen's header was off target. Jutglà had the final say, but his effort went a meter over the top corner.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 8
Attendance: 21.000 – Lotto Park
Referee: Lawrence Visser
RSC Anderlecht: Kasper Schmeichel – Killian Sardella, Zeno Debast, Jan Vertonghen, Ludwig Augustinsson – Mats Rits, Theo Leoni, Thomas Delaney (45+2’ Amadou Diawara) – Thorgan Hazard (76’ Alexis Flips), Kasper Dolberg (43’ Luis Vazquez), Francis Amuzu (76’ Anders Dreyer). Coach: Brian Riemer.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Kyriani Sabbe, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Hugo Vetlesen (67’ Casper Nielsen), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen (76’ Dedryck Boyata), Igor Thiago, Philip Zinckernagel (67’ Ferran Jutglà). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Eder Balanta, Denis Odoi en Michal Skóras. Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Vetlesen, Vazquez.
Red cards: none
Goals: 40’ Dolberg (1-0), 64’ Skov Olsen (1-1).
