Club Brugge supporters have been on a rollercoaster since the start of the play-offs. At the end of March, nothing seemed possible for the West Flemish: they were as good as exhausted for the national title and the funeral march under Ronny Deila did not at all make them dream of European success. More than a month later, they were allowed to try to pry open the gate to their first European final since 1978 in Florence.
The rollercoaster also turned happily in circles in Italy, with a competition scenario that was not for heart sufferers. “If everyone does their job, we have a good chance,” interim coach Nicky Hayen (43) had said before the match. That seemed to be missing at times against Fiorentina, only eighth in Serie A but last year a losing finalist in the Conference League.
In terms of football, Club Brugge did not reach the level of recent weeks and defensively it saw violet stars at times. But just after Onyedika had stupidly been excluded after an hour, Igor Thiago seemed to save a ten-man Club. Until substitute M’Bala Nzola rightly gave the Italians the victory at the very end of the game.
Gracious Gonzalez
It was the final part of a match that exploded after just five minutes. Sabbe and Skoras gave too much space to Riccardo Sottil, who cut in from the left flank and kicked phenomenally from just outside the box: Nordin Jackers – favored in goal over the recovered Simon Mignolet – had no chance. Barely three minutes later, Nicolas Gonzalez should have always made it 2–0, but the 26-year-old Argentinian, acquired from Stuttgart for 24.5 million euros in the summer of 2021, did not show mercy for the last time.
Club Brugge gasped for breath in an intense first half and came alongside almost out of nowhere: Igor Thiago, the man worth 37.5 million, had first kicked Terracciano, but in the rebound the ball landed on the arm of Cristiano Biraghi. Hans Vanaken converted the penalty icily calmly after a VAR intervention: 1–1.
Fiorentina, an atypical Italian team, was not upset and continued to press hard. Coach Vincenzo Italiano is known for letting his team play football, but the team has had difficulty scoring in recent weeks – still a requirement for winning games. Yet La Viola took the lead again before the break. After lax defending from Bjorn Meijer, Jackers was unable to clamp a long shot from Bonaventura, after which the ball ended up at Belotti’s feet via a number of intermediate stations. From the spin he scored: 2–1, a deserved lead.
Mighty Thiago
After the break it was important for Club to limit the damage and to be more offensive. Not an easy task, because the Conference League is a main goal for Fiorentina. In recent weeks, Italiano did not field his best eleven in Serie A, precisely because of this European competition. Moreover, they have been undefeated for eleven European matches in a row – the longest run in club history.
The first goal danger was again of Italian origin: Biraghi painted a free kick on the head of Belotti, Jackers tapped the header away from under the crossbar. Club was initially unable to do enough in return, but just like before half-time, they suddenly had a chance: Thiago pushed through well and laid off for Jutgla. The Catalan failed to put the ball into the empty goal. Things seemed to be going sour for Club, because moments later Onyedika received his second yellow card in three minutes after a rash wild tackle, a justified exclusion.
Club had to continue with ten for another half hour, but just then Thiago – again he – was too quick for the Italian defense. The Brazilian held off Ranieri and scored well from the corner (2–2). It gave Nicky Hayen’s team courage and Fiorentina initially failed to convert their surplus into opportunities. It was only in the last 10 minutes that there was a real Italian squeeze and in the 91st minute, substitute Nzola made the logical, but harsh verdict: first he hit the post, but on the rebound he simply scored (3-2).
The Italians have not yet qualified, although Club Brugge will not be allowed to repeat the mistakes it made in Florence next Wednesday if it wants to claim the apotheosis on May 29 in Athens, Greece.
FIORENTINA-CLUB BRUGGE3–2
GOALS: 5′ Sottil 1–0; 17′ Vanaken 1–1 (penalty); 37′ Belotti 2–1: Thiago 2–2; 90’+1′ Nzola 3–2
ASTON VILLA OLYMPIAKOS 2–4
DOELPUNTEN: 16′ El Kaabi 0–1; 29′ El Kaabi 0–2; 45’+1′ Watkins 1–2; 52′ Diaby 2–2; 56′ El Kaabi 2–3; 67′ Hezze 2–4
Final far away for Lukaku, De Ketelaere takes a strong step
A Europa League final with Romelu Lukaku and ‘half Belgian’ Mile Svilar versus Charles De Ketelaere? Would have been nice, but it doesn’t look good from Roma’s side. At home against Leverkusen, Lukaku hit the crossbar for the Romans, but it was the German champion who scored. Florian Wirtz punished tampering in the Italian defense. Things got even worse for the in the second half yellowish red, when Robert Andrich made it 0-2. A final is far away for Lukaku and Svilar.
Then things look a lot better for De Ketelaere. Atalanta quickly took the lead at Marseille: Gianluca Scamacca coolly finished a nice attack. It didn’t take long for L’OM to equalize. Chancel Mbemba, who played for Anderlecht in the distant past, beautifully scored the equalizer. After that, the club from Bergamo managed to hold on to the 1-1 score. De Ketelaere should keep May 22, the day of the final, free in his agenda. (btj)
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