Club Brugge won the topper against AA Gent 2-0 on their own field. Blauw-Zwart took the lead midway through the first half thanks to a penalty by Igor Thiago. Five minutes before half-time, Kandouss was red carded and Thiago scored his second penalty.
The Bruges starting lineup underwent two changes compared to Thursday's game against Bodø/Glimt. In midfield, Raphael Onyedika was given preference over Hugo Vetlesen and at left forward, Philip Zinckernagel replaced Antonio Nusa. At the back, Joel Ordóñez retained his starting place and Maxim De Cuyper again took charge of the right flank.
AA Gent put high pressure from the opening minute, making it difficult for Club to play out of the game. After five minutes, moreover, the Buffaloes claimed a penalty kick after Mechele Cuypers touched in the sixteen yards. Referee Lardot allowed it to continue and VAR did not intervene either. The first danger from Blauw-Zwart came after about fifteen minutes, but Roef had no problems with a header from Zinckernagel. Moments later Club really got going: a shot by Vanaken was just barely blocked, and then Zinckernagel and Skov Olsen didn't play it well. Then Nielsen picked out a fine through pass to Zinckernagel, but the Dane wanted to take the ball with him instead of deciding directly on goal.
Halfway through the first half, it finally worked out for the Brugge players. Lardot initially turned a blind eye to a foul by Kums on Zinckernagel, but at the VAR's request, he looked at the images. Club got a penalty after all, and Igor Thiago kicked it delightfully into the top corner. This allowed Blauw-Zwart to sit back and try to take advantage of the space in the Gent defense. Five minutes before halftime, Vanaken cleverly played Thiago free, but his shot was handily knocked out of the goal by Kandouss. Red for the defender and a second penalty for Club was the verdict. Igor Thiago chose the left corner this time and doubled Bruges' lead.
After the break, Gent tried to respond, but Club obviously took no chances with a man more and a double lead. The first threat came from Vanaken, but Roef could easily catch his header. Then it was waiting until past the hour: Tissoudali picked out with a hard blast from the edge of the sixteen yards that whizzed just wide.
Ronny Deila provided fresh blood a little later with Spileers and Nusa, but the pattern of play remained unchanged. AA Gent was unable to make a fist, while Club played with the handbrake on. A quarter of an hour before time, Tissoudali had a great chance: the striker could only go for Mignolet and tried to tip the ball over the Limburger, but De Cuyper was able to assist his goalkeeper. At the other end, Skov Olsen missed the 3-0 when he kicked the leather over the crossbar from close range. The victory was no longer in danger, bringing Club Brugge to within two points of AA Gent in the standings.
Jupiler Pro League - Match day 18
Spectators: 29,042 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Maxim De Cuyper, Joel Ordóñez (64' Jorne Spileers), Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Casper Nielsen (28' Hugo Vetlesen), Raphael Onyedika (86' Éder Balanta), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen, Igor Thiago (86' Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (64' Antonio Nusa). Bank: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte and Tajon Buchanan. Coach: Ronny Deila.
KAA Gent: Davy Roef - Ismael Kandouss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Nurio Fortuna (46' Bram Lagae) - Matisse Samoise, Sven Kums, Julien De Sart, Hyunseok Hong (92' Noah Fadiga), Malick Fofana - Hugo Cuypers (85' Gift Orban), Tarik Tissoudali (85' Omri Gandelman). Coach: Hein Vanhaezebrouck.
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: 40' Kandouss.
Goals: 24' Thiago (penalty, 1-0), 41' Thiago (penalty, 2-0).
