Philippe Clement changed his line-up in three ways compared to the team that beat KV Oostende a fortnight ago. Due to Sobol's positive COVID-19 test and Ricca's injury, Charles De Ketelaere played on the left-hand side. Brandon Mechele replaced Odilon Kossounou in the heart of defence, in front Youssouph Badji forced Emmanuel Dennis on the bench. The Senegalese played with Diatta and Lang on the wings.
Club was best out of the starting blocks and had a great chance to open the scoring after five minutes when Noa Lang powered through the visitors' defence and aimed at goal from the edge of the area, but goalkeeper Ilic saved his effort. A few minutes later Vormer found Badji, but the striker couldn't convert and De Ketelaere volleyed the ball over the crossbar. When defender Sainsbury went forward for Kortrijk, he forced Mignolet into making a good save.
KV Kortrijk relied on a good organization, which made it difficult for the blue and black to create a good chance. Club's passing was too slowly, the movement off the ball to transparant. Just over the half-hour mark Lang tried it with a bicycle kick, but it went over the goal. Badji saw a shot blocked and just before the half-time whistle Vanaken fired a pass from Diatta towards goal, but Ilic kept it out.
Club kept looking for the goal after the break. The first danger came from the right-hand side when Diatta played a low cross in front of goal, but Badji was half a second late to stab home. A better chance followed a few minutes later. This time Diatta feeded the ball to Mats Rits, but the midfielder aimed the ball into the arms of Ilic.
On the hour mark Philippe Clement brought on Michael Krmenčík and the Czech had an immediate impact. After a scrimmage in front of goal he headed the ball towards Noa Lang and the Dutchman slotted home with an overhead kick. After the opening goal the visitors moved away from their defensive positions, which gave Club more space. Twenty minutes before the end Diatta played the ball into the path of Vormer, but the captain couldn't get his shot on target.
In the final minutes Okereke and Kossounou were subbed on, but the score remained unchanged. Kortrijk tried to put more pressure in an attempt to score a late equaliser, but Club held on to the lead. Thanks to this victory, Club remains top of the league.
On Tuesday Club Brugge face Borussia Dortmund on matchday four of the Champions League group stage.
Jupiler Pro League – Fixture 13
Attendance: none – Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lothar D’hondt
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Clinton Mata, Brandon Mechele, Simon Deli, Charles De Ketelaere – Ruud Vormer, Mats Rits, Hans Vanaken – Krépin Diatta (81’ Odilon Kossounou), Youssouph Badji (59’ Michael Krmenčík), Noa Lang (76’ David Okereke). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Senne Lammens, Éder Balanta, Siebe Schrijvers, Emmanuel Dennis en Maxim De Cuyper. Coach: Philippe Clement.
KV Kortrijk: Marko Ilic – Gilles Dewaele, Lucas Rougeaux, Trent Sainsbury, Eric Ocansey (90’ Petar Golubovic) – Jovan Stojanovic (71’ Timothy Derijck), Hannes Van der Bruggen, Julien De Sart, Michiel Jonckheere (86’ Yani Van den Bossche) – Ilombe Mboyo, Pape Habib Gueye. Coach: Yves Vanderhaeghe.
Yellow cards: Van der Bruggen, Jovanovic, Sainsbury.
Red cards: none
Goal: 60’ Lang (1-0).
Report - Steven Floin
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