On the weekend before the important Champions League game against Atlético Madrid, Club Brugge looked city rivals Cercle in the eye, in what turned out to be a hard-fought victory for Club.
A fiery first half performance by Cercle Brugge saw them awarded with the best chances, while Club had the most possession. Already in the fifth minute, the home team hit the post through Pieter Gerkens, who fortunately for Club could not get the most of a superb Nazinho cross in what would turn out to be an instrumental miss. A few minutes later, Mignolet saved an attempt by Adewumi, after Club was unable to clear the ball after a home free kick. Just before the quarter-hour mark, Club seemed goalbound through Vanaken, but referee D'Hondt ruled that Stankovic had made a foul just prior to Vanaken's shot hitting the back of the nets.
After another chance for the hosts through Magnee, Carlos Forbs was offered an excellent chance to open the score, but he hastily put it wide. It did come with a period of more Club pressure on Cercle Brugge's goal, as Tresoldi was just not reached after a nice attack: Sabbe tried to single out the forward, but his pass just didn't arrive. Cercle's high pressure line asked the Club defense all kinds of questions, with Club seeing its high possession percentage not reflected in the number of chances created.
The second half started with the same 22 names and another main actor: the weather. Snow was drifting through the stadium, influencing the game, and a red ball surfaced, which turned out to be the right choice later on. The second half started with a strong ten minutes for the visitors, resulting in a double lead by minute 54. Club opened the score through Tresoldi: a throw-in by Sabbe ended up with Forbs, who pushed on well and was able to serve Sabbe again. The latter found Tresoldi inside the box, who deftly worked it in off the post. A few minutes later, the lead was extended through a goal by Carlos Forbs, neatly set up by Diakhon who laid the ball wide to Forbs, pulling the trigger without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the snowflakes became more numerous and the field looked whiter and whiter. Seemingly under control, Club conceded a connecting goal that literally fell from the sky. A cross from Nazinho blew over Mignolet and landed in goal off the post. The second half had seen a meek home team until then, but now the hosts decided 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.
The win helsp Club look forward in confidence as it gears up to the upcoming home match against Atletico Madrid, taking place on Wednesday in the Champions League Play-Off round.
Jupiler Pro League - Match day 25
Audience: 11,920 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. 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
Bench: 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)
Bench: Jackers, Osuji, Meijer, Siquet, Vetlesen, Lemaréchal, Campbell, Tzolis, Vermant
Coach: Ivan Leko
Yellow: 46' Seys, 62' Agyekum, 77' Sabbe, 90+3' Mechele
Red: none
Goals: 51' Tresoldi, 54' Forbs, 71' Nazinho