Club Brugge returned from RWDM with three points in the back after a resounding 1-6 win. Blauw-Zwart were already in the drivers' seat after the first quarter of an hour after goals by Thiago and Zinckernagel. On the stroke of half-time Skov Olsen put the game to bed. After the break Thiago completed his hat-trick before Hans Vanaken got his name on the score sheet.
Injury woes forced Ronny Deila to make two changes to the team that had beaten AA Gent on Sunday. Jorne Spileers came on for Joel Ordóñez in the heart of the defence, while in midfield Hugo Vetlesen replaced Casper Nielsen. Earlier this season Club had beaten RWDM 7-1. That inspired Blauw-Zwart to take the command right from the start, but it were the visitors who created the first good chance: Mercier whipped in a cross, but Gueye couldn't get his header on target.
It was the sign for Club to up the tempo and that resulted in the opening goal when Zinckernagel clipped in a perfect cross for Thiago who headed home. A few minutes later Thiago turned provider when he latched onto Vanaken's through ball and teed up Zinckernagel in front of goal, who thumped home.
RWDM tried to claw themselves back into the game but Mercier's free-kick was saved comfortably by Mignolet and Gueye aimed his effort wide. Club was not impressed and created a number of chances to get a third: Zinckernagel flashed the ball wide on Thiago's cut-back and aimed the ball into the arms of goalkeeper Dufourny a few moments later. But just before the half-time whistle Club had its third of the evening when Skov Olsen cut inside from the right-hand side and curled it in via the far post.
Club was not satisfied and kept going after the break. After a Zinckernagel free-kick Defourny brought down Thiago and the forward smashed it in himself from the penalty spot. One minute later RWDM pulled one back when Ilay Camara was sent through on goal and beat Mignolet.
Halfway the second half Club was awarded another spot kick after an on field review. Defourny kept out Thiago's penalty, but the Brazilian tapped home on the rebound to complete his hat-trick. With twenty minutes on the clock Vanaken headed in on a Zinckernagel cross.
In the closing stages of the match Defourny prevented another 7-1 defeat when he tipped over Balanta's header. Nusa's hard strike flew over the crossbar, Mechele and Jutglà saw a Zinckernagel free-kick just evade them and when Skóraś picked out Jutglà, a defender cleared it just in front of the Spaniard.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 19
Attendance: 10.000 – Edmond Machtensstadion
Referee: Brent Staessens
RWDM: Théo Defourny – Moussa Sissako, William Klaus (76’ Matteo Vandendaele), Youssouf Koné (65’ Theo Gece) – Ilay Camara, Pierre Dwomoh (85’ Floran Sanchez), Shuto Abe, Xavier Mercier (46’ Djovkar Doudaev), Felipe Abner – Makhtar Gueye, Pathé Mboup. Coach: Claudio Caçapa.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Maxim De Cuyper, Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer (38’ Denis Odoi) – Hugo Vetlesen (66’ Éder Balanta), Raphael Onyedika (77’ Michał Skóraś), Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen (66’ Antonio Nusa), Igor Thiago (66’ Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel. Bench: Nordin Jackers and Dedryck Boyata. Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Thiago, Koné, Skóraś.
Red cards: none
Goals: 9’ Thiago (0-1), 13’ Zinckernagel (0-2), 45+1’ Skov Olsen (0-3), 55’ Thiago (penalty, 0-4), 56’ Camara (1-4), 64’ Thiago (1-5), 72’ Vanaken (1-6).