Mixed success European opponents

Club Brugge's European opponents experienced varying degrees of success this weekend. Bayer Leverkusen went down 2-3 at home against Freiburg. FC Porto on the other hand was able to win: 0-2 at Gil Vicente. Finally, Atlético Madrid did not get beyond a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad.

Bayer Leverkusen - Freiburg 2-3

At home, Bayer Leverkusen, next Wednesday's opponent of Club in the Champions League, went in search of a follow-up to last week's win over Mainz. In a goal-rich match, it was Freiburg, currently leaders in the German Bundesliga, that came out on top. During the first half, Leverkusen took the lead thanks to Kerem Demirbay, who opened the scoring after 16 minutes. That was also the halftime score at the BayArena.

The second half had a lot more spectacle in store. Just after halftime, Matthias Ginter balanced the boards and a few minutes later Gregoritsch brought the visitors to the lead. Bayer Leverkusen managed the 2-2 thanks to Schick, who scored on assist from latest newcomer Hudson-Odoi. In the 72nd minute, however, it was Doan who scored the third goal for Freiburg, who thus got to take home the three points. Leverkusen, with Odilon Kossounou a whole game between the lines, thus remains behind with 3 out of 15. This puts coach Gerardo Seoane's team in 13th place. (EV)

Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Kossounou, Tah (60' Hudson-Odoi), Tapsoba, Andrich (79' Amiri), Frimpong, Palacios (60' Azmoun), Demirbay (60' Aranguiz), Sinkgraven (79' Fosu-Mensah), Diaby, Schick.
Goals: 16' Demirbay (1-0), 48' Ginter (1-1), 51' Gregoritsch (1-2), 65' Schick (2-2), 72' Doan (2-3).

Gil Vicente - FC Porto 0-2

FC Porto won its match Saturday night away at Gil Vicente 0-2 thanks to goals by Taremi and Galeno in the first half. With this win, the Dragões remain third in the standings in the wake of leader Benfica.

Coach Sérgio Conceição was not satisfied after last week's loss and changed his starting lineup in as many as five positions. Yet the first danger of the match was for Gil Vicente. Ball loss by Pepe put the home side on the way to goal, but Diogo Costa made a save. Porto was immediately awake and took control of the match. Striker Martinez scored twice, but both goals were disallowed by VAR for offside. In between, a free Otavio, on a pass from Martinez, had aimed high above the goal. But the blue-and-whites still played their lead together in the closing minutes of the first half. Mehdi Taremi opened the scoring with a hard slam and left home goalkeeper Andrew defenseless, then Wenderson Galeno tapped the 0-2 into goal on a pass from Eustaquio.

The second half was a lot less but soccer wise both teams kept each other in balance. However, there were no big chances to score and the 0-2 score at halftime became the final score. FC Porto did not have to go deep in the last half of the match with an eye on Wednesday's Champions League match at Atlético Madrid. (KN)

FC Porto: Diogo Costa - Wendell, David Carmo, Pepe, Pepe (82' Goncalo Borges) - Wenderson Galano (82' Joao Mario), Mateus Uribe, Stephen Eustaquio, Otavio (90' Danny Loader) - Mehdi Taremi (75' Gabriel Veron), Toni Martinez (75' Evanilson).
Goals: 41' Mehdi Taremi (0-1), 44' Wenderson Galeno (0-2).

Real Sociedad - Atlético Madrid 1-1

After a substitution at Valencia's field, another substitution was on the program this matchday for Simeone and his men. Despite his winning goal against Valencia, Griezmann started on the bench, Axel Witsel was again given a starting place in the center of defense.

Atletico came out of the locker room bright and took an early lead through Morata who was able to work in goal from close range. Sociedad was not impressed and tried to respond, including through Merino who saw his ball splash onto the post. However, it was Atletico that scored again through Joao Felix. However, VAR ruled that the striker had committed a foul so the 0-1 remained on the board until the break.

After the coffee, Sociedad remained undaunted in search of an equalizer, and with success. On a cross from Mohamed-Ali Cho, Sadiq worked the leather into the nets with his head past Oblak. Both teams then forced several more chances, although Atletico had the lion's share. The substitute Griezmann, like Joao Felix, pounced on Remiro, who did not allow the leather to pass. Despite pressure from the visitors in the closing stages, there was no winning goal. (KV)

Atletico Madrid: Oblak (85' Grbic), Reinildo, Witsel, Jose Gimenez, Carrasco (79' Hermoso), Saul (46' Kondogbia), Koke, De Paul (63' Griezmann), Llorente, Morata (79' Correa) and Joao Felix.
Goals: 5' Morata (0-1), 55' Sadiq (1-1).