On the weekend before the important Champions League game against Atletico Madrid, Blauw-Zwart looked city rival Cercle in the eye. On match day 25 it was a hard-fought victory, with Club winning 1-2.
In the first half, however, Cercle Brugge had the best chances, while Blauw-Zwart had the most ball possession. Already in the fifth minute, the home team hit the post through Pieter Gerkens, who fortunately for Club did not get a Nazinho cross against the nets. A few minutes later, Mignolet saved an attempt by Adewumi, after Club could not get the ball away after a free kick by the home team. Just before the quarter-hour mark, Blauw-Zwart seemed to score through Vanaken, but referee D'Hondt ruled that Stankovic had made a mistake beforehand.
After another chance for Magnee, Carlos Forbs had a dot of a chance, but he hastily kicked wide. It did signal for Club to put more pressure on Cercle Brugge's goal. Tresoldi was just not reached after a nice attack: Sabbe tried to find the striker, but his pass just didn't arrive.
Blauw-Zwart had most of the ball possession, but did too little with it. The high pressure from Cercle Brugge made it difficult to get through.
The second half started with the same protagonists. The snow also became a factor influencing the game. Therefore, a red ball was played, which turned out to be the right choice.
It was the start of a strong ten minutes for Blauw-Zwart, in which the visitors managed to score twice. First, Club took the lead through Tresoldi. A throw-in by Sabbe ended up with Forbs, who pushed on well and was able to serve Sabbe again. That found Tresoldi in the sixteen, and he deftly worked through the post. A few minutes later, the lead was extended through a goal by Carlos Forbs. It was Diakhon who provided the assist: he laid the ball wide to Forbs, who did not hesitate and pulled the trigger.
Meanwhile, the snowflakes became more numerous and the field looked whiter and whiter. Blue-Black seemed to have everything under control, until the connecting goal literally fell from the sky. A cross from Nazinho blew over Mignolet and landed in goal via the post. That was the signal for the home team to go all out. Club struggled to keep the ball in their own ranks, but the defense stood firm, keeping the three points on the blue side of Bruges.
Thanks to this win, Club can look forward with confidence to the upcoming home match against Atletico Madrid, which takes place Wednesday in the Champions League intermediate round.
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 25
Spectators: 11,920 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lothar D'Hondt
Cercle Brugge: Warleson, Magnee, Kakou, Ravych, Nazinho, Van der Bruggen (63' Diaby), Agyekum (77' Konaté), Gerkens, Diop (63' Vanzeir), Adewumi (76' Herrmann), Ngoura
Bank: Delanghe, Kondo, Konaté, Diakité, Jurado, De Wilde, Diaby, Vanzeir, Herrmann
Coach: Onur Cinel
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Sabbe, Ordoñez, Mechele, Seys, Stankovic, Onyedika, Vanaken, Forbs (67' Campbell), Tresoldi (67' Vermant), Diakhon (61' Tzolis)
Bank: Jackers, Osuji, Meijer, Siquet, Vetlesen, Lemaréchal, Campbell, Tzolis, Vermant
Coach: Ivan Leko
Yellow cards: 46' Seys, 62' Agyekum, 77' Sabbe, 90+3' Mechele
Red cards: none
Goals: 51' Tresoldi, 54' Forbs, 71' Nazinho