A whirlwind Club Brugge recorded a massive 4-0 victory against KRC Genk. Ferran Jutglà gave Blauw-Zwart an early lead and after the break an unleashed Club netted three more through Skóraś, Thiago and De Cuyper.
Three changes to the team that had had beaten Union on Sunday: Joel Ordóñez came on for Jorne Spileers at the back, while in midfield Denis Odoi replaced the suspended Hugo Vetlesen. Up front, Ferran Jutglà was preferred to Antonio Nusa.
Club obviously gained confidence in recent weeks and continued on that same vein against Genk, immediately pushing the pedal. A first chance resulted within thirty seconds, as Vanaken came inches close of tapping in a Thiago cross. A few minutes later, goalkeeper Vandevoordt intercepted a Skóraś cross just in front of the onrushing Thiago and Jutglà. On the other side of the pitch, El Hadj's cross also sailed past Tolu and El Ouahdi. All guns ablaze, Club kept coming, and the next attack proved golden: Jackers with the great long ball to find Skóraś, neatly picking it up to serve Jutglà inside the box. The striker's initial attempt was saved from the goal line by McKenzie, but the Spaniard was able to scramble in the rebound.
A dream start for Club, keeping the reins tight, and fifteen minutes into the game Skóraś went over McKenzie's leg inside the box, but ref D'Hondt waved play on. As time went on, Genk went in search of the equalizer: a shot by Galarza flew over, Jackers was able to clear a cross from Fadera with the help of Mechele, De Cuyper blocked a shot from Galarza and Jackers caught a deflected shot from El Hadj. The final fifteen minutes of an entertaining first half saw more Club threats: Vanaken's shot seemed goalbound but was blocked and an effort by Skóraś flew over goal. An excellent chance to double the lead finally came to Denis Odoi, but he headed a Jutglà cross over goal from close range.
A slender lead for Club after what had been an inspired first half, but what was to come in the second was downright breathtaking. After five minutes Jutglà was able to go off alone on goal, but the Catalan hesitated too long and the chance was lost. Genk had it coming, however, and the double lead followed immediately afterward. After a cross from De Cuyper, Vanaken played an ingenious header to the free Skóraś, hammering the ball into the goal with his left. Five minutes later a third arrived: Thiago with the chest control and the thumping shot in the far corner past a hapless Vandevoordt.
Despite the large lead, Club's hunger still was not satisfied. Club kept pushing Genk from pillar to post, which resulted in a fourth goal halfway through the second half. After a fine attack, Jutglà tapped the ball to Maxim De Cuyper, pinpointing the 4-0 perfectly into the corner. With Club finally lifting the foot off the pedal, Genk created some chances through substitute Zeqiri, showing himself with some distance shots, but the score remained as it was. The win keeps the gap with leaders Anderlecht down to two.
Jupiler Pro League - Champions' Play-offs: Match Day 5
Audience: 26,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Lothar D'Hondt
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (71' Bjorn Meijer), Joel Ordóñez (85' Jorne Spileers), Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Denis Odoi, Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Michał Skóraś (65' Antonio Nusa), Igor Thiago (85' Shion Homma), Ferran Jutglà (Philip Zinckernagel). Bench: Joe Bursik, Nick Shinton, Éder Balanta, Dedryck Boyata and Chemsdine Talbi. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
KRC Genk: Maarten Vandevoordt - Mujaid Sadick, Carlos Cuesta, Mark McKenzie - Zakaria El Ouahdi (60' Ken Nkuba), Patrik Hrosovsky, Matias Galarza, Alieu Fadera (60' Edouard Sobol) - Bilal El Khannouss (71' Ibrahima Bangoura), Tolu Arokodare (71' Christopher Bonsu Baah), Anouar Ait El Hadj (60' Andi Zeqiri). Coach: Wouter Vrancken.
Yellow: Arokodare.
Red: none
Goals: 6' Jutglà (1-0), 51' Skóraś (2-0), 57' Thiago (3-0), 67' De Cuyper (4-0).
