Club Brugge got no further than a 0-0 draw in the derby against Cercle. Blauw-Zwart had the most ball possession and also numerous chances, but Cercle goalkeeper Warleson proved unbeatable.
Bruges' starting lineup underwent two changes compared to Thursday's match against FC Lugano. Central striker Ferran Jutglà was preferred to Igor Thiago, while at left back Bjorn Meijer replaced Maxim De Cuyper. At center back, Joel Ordóñez reappeared at the start. For the Ecuadorian it was his first starting place in the league.
Both teams pulled out all the stops from the start. The first threat came from Cercle, but after a free kick by Nazinho, Somers kicked the ball wide. Club responded with a clever counterattack, which ended with a cross from Meijer that was just cleared. Moments later, Utkus was just able to prevent Skov Olsen from scoring. Just over ten minutes later there were two more good chances: first Warleson saved Meijer's effort perfectly and immediately after that the Brazilian goalkeeper also managed to corner a Skov Olsen effort.
Then things fell somewhat quiet for a while, although a shot by Vanaken was cleared just before the goal line, while both Jutglà and Zinckernagel could not frame their attempts. In the closing stages of the first half, it was Cercle that could threaten again: a shot by Lemaréchal went several meters wide, while Denkey deviated a cross from the same Lemaréchal against the outside of the post. Soon after, a header by Utkus went well wide. The last danger of the first half came from Blauw-Zwart: Vanaken launched Jutglà but he lay down too eagerly after a contact with Nazinho, causing referee Lambrechts to let the game continue.
Both Ordóñez and Skov Olsen remained injured in the locker room. Spileers and Thiago were their replacements. The Brazilian was immediately dangerous, but he could not reach a cross from Meijer. Blauw-Zwart kept pressing, but it was Cercle that was dangerous on the counter. After a cleared corner kick, a three-on-one situation arose, but Onyedika defended excellently. Moments later, Gboho slipped through the offside trap, but Mignolet had a fine reflex. At the other end, Warleson also saved a shot by Jutglà.
After twenty minutes in the second half, Deila threw in Nielsen and De Cuyper, to the detriment of Onyedika and Buchanan. Club now switched to a 3-5-2, hoping to outsmart Cercle that way. Mignolet did have to deflect a shot from Siquet, but it was Club that increased the pressure. After a cross from De Cuyper, Thiago needed a bit too much time. The ball eventually reached Vetlesen, but his shot and also Jutglà's rebound were both parried by Warleson.
Ten minutes before time, the Brazilian goalkeeper seemed to be beaten after all, when Jutglà was completely free to decide after a cross from Meijer. This time, however, it was Miangue who was able to prevent the opening goal with an ultimate foot reflex. A few minutes before time, Jutglà cleverly extended a Zinckernagel cross towards goal, but again Warleson made a save. At the other end, a shot by Van der Bruggen was blocked, but the Cercled goalkeeper again had the final goal. Deep into injury time he also parried a shot by Meijer, keeping the 0-0 score on the board.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 14
Spectators: 27,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan (64' Maxim De Cuyper), Joel Ordóñez (46' Jorne Spileers), Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Hugo Vetlesen, Raphael Onyedika (64' Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (46' Igor Thiago), Ferran Jutglà, Philip Zinckernagel (88' Michał Skóraś). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Nick Shinton, Éder Balanta and Shion Homma. Coach: Ronny Deila.
Cercle Brugge: Warleson - Hugo Siquet (93' Kazeem Olaigbe), Jesper Daland, Edgaras Utkus (70' Boris Popovic), Flavio Nazinho (78' Senna Miangue) - Nils de Wilde, Hannes Van der Bruggen, Félix Lemaréchal - Thibo Somers, Kevin Denkey, Yann Gboho (78' Alan Minda). Coach: Miron Muslic.
Yellow cards: Utkus, Ordóñez, Onyedika, Nazinho, Minda, Somers.
Red cards: none
Goals: none
