Club Brugge has very handsomely qualified for the 1/16th finals of the Champions League. Diakhon, Vermant and Stanković gave a whirling Blauw-Zwart a big 3-0 win against Olympique Marseille. Club Brugge thus finished in a very fine nineteenth place in the group stage. Juventus or Atletico Madrid await in the next round.
Ivan Leko made two changes to the team that beat Zulte Waregem on Saturday. Simon Mignolet made his comeback and stood in goal for the first time since Nov. 30. At the back, Joel Ordóñez also resumed his starting place after missing Saturday due to suspension. Jackers and Spileers disappeared from the starting lineup as a result. Christos Tzolis also returned from injury and took his place on the bench.
The Bruges players knew what they had to do to qualify for the next round: win against Marseille and secure a place in the top 24. The French needed only one point. Club immediately pulled out all the stops, with success. The first attack was already a success: Stanković advanced well, Vanaken allowed his pass to flow through to Mamadou Diakhon, who saw his hard hit ball flutter into the goal via the fingertips of goalkeeper Rulli. After ten minutes it was 2-0: Stanković got to the back line and his low cross was kicked in by Romeo Vermant in one go.
An absolute dream start for Blauw-Zwart, which also had several chances after that: Diakhon pushed forward but was stopped by Rulli, shots by Sabbe and Stanković were blocked and a header by Vermant went over goal. The French took more control as time went on, but got no further than a few distance shots from star player Greenwood. Mignolet was at the ready each time. Marseille's best chance came on the stroke of half-time, but Mignolet made a fine save on a hard shot by Kondogbia.
At the start of the second half, it was the same Kondogbia who could threaten first, but Mignolet did not allow himself to be surprised. Club was not impressed and immediately after missed the chance to make it 3-0: Forbs rolled up the entire right flank and served the free-standing Diakhon, but the young Frenchman missed his control, ruining the chance. Immediately after, Gouiri had the chance for the 2-1, but the striker could not frame his shot.
The French continued to press, however, making it all hands on deck for Club. Ordóñez was just able to clear a Paixão cross, Mignolet had fine saves on shots by Aubameyang and Greenwood, and again Ordóñez was able to head a Højbjerg shot just before the goal line. Blue-Black, meanwhile, lurked on the counter: thus Rulli had to make a save on a shot by Stanković, while a shot by the substitute Tzolis flew wide.
In the end, it was standout Stanković who provided the decision ten minutes before time. Forbs again wrecked everything and everyone, was pounced on by Rulli but then served Stanković who popped in for the 3-0. Marseille then tried to save the honor, but got no further than two timid attempts by Aubameyang. Thanks to this big win, Club Brugge ends in nineteenth place and qualifies for the 1/16th finals. There it will face Juventus or Atletico Madrid.
UEFA Champions League - Matchday 8
Spectators: 29,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Marco Guida (Ita)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (85' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez (71' Jorne Spileers), Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković (85' Hugo Vetlesen), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs, Romeo Vermant (85' Nicolò Tresoldi), Mamadou Diakhon (69' Christos Tzolis). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Ludovit Reis, Cisse Sandra, Bjorn Meijer and Shandre Campbell. Coach: Ivan Leko.
Olympique Marseille: Géronimo Rulli - Michael Murillo (53' Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang), Leonardo Balerdi, Nayef Aguerd - Timothy Weah, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Geoffrey Kondogbia (86' Matt O'Riley), Facundo Medina - Mason Greenwood, Amine Gouiri (86' Bilal Nadir), Hamed Traoré (46' Igor Paixão). Coach: Roberto De Zerbi.
Yellow cards: Murillo, Vanaken.
Red cards: none
Goals: 4' Diakhon (1-0), 11' Vermant (2-0), 79' Stanković (3-0).