To conclude the 2025-2026 season, brand-new national champions Club Brugge hosted KAA Gent at home for another Battle of Flanders. Midway through the first half, Forbs opened the scoring for Club and even before halftime, Tresoldi extended the score with a two-goal lead. In the second half, the Bruggelings simply continued on that momentum and Tresoldi was able to complete his hat-trick. Finally, Tzolis recorded the forfait final score with a delightful curl. Thus Club Brugge closed the season in true champion style!
Last Thursday, Blauw-Zwart finally had enough of a draw to celebrate its 20th national title. For the final match of the season, coach Ivan Leko opted to leave most of his starting squad in place and consequently made only two changes. Stanković got some rest and was allowed to start on the bench and so Sandra took his place in midfield alongside Vetlesen and Vanaken. Finally, the other change was made under the crossbar, where Mignolet was logically preferred to van den Heuvel this time. Indeed, Mignolet was playing his very last game of his wonderful career and with his starting place he got the honorary salute he deserves.
After a fantastic tribute to "Big Si," the match was whistled on and Blue-Black was in the mood almost immediately. After five minutes, a nice and fast combination between Tresoldi and Tzolis was put on the mat and eventually the latter was able to strike in the sixteen. His shot was well placed to the far corner, but Roef picked out with a clever save to prevent an early counter-goal. Moments later it was Tresoldi's turn to provide goal danger. Club's striker received the ball just outside the sixteen and he did not hesitate to kick immediately towards goal, but unfortunately his attempt went wide of Roef's cage. The threat continued to come from Bruges' feet though, as on the quarter hour mark Tzolis showed himself again. In his familiar manner, the Greek winger came inside the sixteen, but in the end he could not frame his shot. The visitors from Gent had not put Mignolet to work until then, but that changed anyway. The leather was kicked into the pack by De Vlieger and there Duverne was able to head at goal from very close range. However, Club's goalie picked out an excellent leg reflex to prevent the opening goal. The home team initially responded to this with a header by Tresoldi into Roef's arms, but a few minutes later it was prize! Tzolis pushed forward well, hooded excellently and then served Forbs. The Portuguese winger then kicked the 1-0 against the nets.
Just before half an hour it was clear that Blauw-Zwart had the match under control and ei so after the score was doubled by Tresoldi. On a cross from Vanaken, however, he could not get his header inside the box from close range. Moments later, Club's goalgetter had more success! Vetlesen had time and space and played Tresoldi into the sixteen. He did not hesitate for a second to blast the double past Roef into the roof of the goal. The Bruggelings continued to play with a lot of drive in front and that resulted in several opportunities. Vanaken put himself behind the ball for a free kick and kicked it nicely towards goal, but Roef picked out with a clever save. Shortly after, the goalie had to come into action again, but this time he had less trouble with an attempt by Vetlesen. KAA Gent responded with an attempt by Kanga wide of Mignolet's goal, but still it was Club that remained lord and master. That eventually translated into a third goal! Vanaken found the infiltrating Sandra in the penalty area with a crafty ball. She then placed the ball perfectly back for Tresoldi, who easily netted his second of the evening from close range. So we went to rest with a convincing and deserved 3-0...
The second half started with one change on both sides. For Club, Ordóñez stayed in the dressing room and was replaced by Stanković, and for the visitors Sonko came into the team for Hong. This hardly changed the game, as once again it was Blauw-Zwart who quickly went on the attack. Yet it was Gent that struck first after a good five minutes, but Mignolet did not have to come into action. An attempt by De Vlieger was deflected into a corner and then a header landed wide of the far post. This was immediately the signal for the home team to push the gas pedal a little harder again, and this quickly yielded results! Vetlesen found the head of Tresoldi with a measured cross and he headed his hat-trick past Roef from close range. Around the hour, both sides made a few substitutions, with Sabbe and Vermant coming on for Club. After 65 minutes, the visitors from Gent had another opportunity through Kanga, but he saw his shot go just wide of the far post.
A little over halfway through the second half, captain Vanaken received a well-deserved change of applause from Jan Breydel and shortly after, Sandra took his chance from distance. However, his shot was too central and posed no problem for Roef. A few minutes later, Gent's goalie also had no trouble with a slider from Stanković. This was perhaps the best moment of the whole evening! An honor guard was formed for Mignolet when the Club goalie was replaced by debutant Vanden Driessche. As if that wasn't enough, Tzolis made the evening even more beautiful a few minutes later! The Greek first fooled Volckaert before curling the leather beautifully past Roef against the nets.
In the end, no extra time was counted and the festivities in and around the Jan Breydel Stadium could begin! Blauw-Zwart ends the season as champions and with a true gala performance by beating KAA Gent by a forfait score!
Champions' Play-offs - Matchday 10
Spectators: 28,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet (78' Argus Vanden Driessche)- Hugo Siquet (62' Kyriani Sabbe), Joel Ordóñez (46' Aleksandar Stanković), Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Cisse Sandra, Hugo Vetlesen, Hans Vanaken (70' Jorne Spileers) - Carlos Forbs (62' Romeo Vermant), Nicolò Tresoldi, Christos Tzolis.
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Argus Vanden Driessche, Bjorn Meijer, Jorne Spileers, Kyriani Sabbe, Raphael Onyedika, Aleksandar Stanković, Mamadou Diakhon, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
KAA Gent: Davy Roef - Daiki Hashioka, Matties Volckaert, Siebe Van der Heyden - Jean-Kévin Duverne (69' Hannes Vernemmen), Mathias Delorge (57' Aimé Omgba), Leonardo Lopes (76' Abdelkahar Kadri), Tibe De Vlieger (57' Atsuki Ito), Tiago Araújo - Hyun-seok Hong (46' Momodou Sonko), Wilfried Kanga.
Bank: Kjell Peersman, Bas Evers, Atsuki Ito, Aimé Omgba, Momodou Sonko, Abdelkahar Kadri, Moctar Diop, Mamadou Diallo, El Hadji Seck, Hannes Vernemmen, Wout Asselman.
Yellow cards: Lopes
Red cards: None
Goals: 21' Forbs (1-0), 33' Tresoldi (2-0), 41' Tresoldi (3-0), 53' Tresoldi (4-0), 79' Tzolis (5-0)