Jupiler Pro League
Club Brugge immediately lost points in the Champions’ Play-offs. Especially in the second half, a strong blue-black created more than enough chances, but Cercle persevered and managed to win a point (1-1).
Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen had already intervened before the start of this derby. Ronny Deila’s successor put Skov Olsen, Jutgla, Nielsen and De Cuyper on the bench. At Cercle, Minda was ready to play after his ankle injury and Lemarechal ended up on the bench.
It was quite a pleasant first half in the Jan Breydel stadium. Early in the match Denkey (Cercle) had an opportunity that he should never have missed. On the other side there was an equally great opportunity for Ordonez, who shot Thiago’s header from two meters far too high.
Top scorer scores
Just after half an hour it was the prize. Van der Bruggen kicked a free kick. Utkus narrowly missed the offside behind the Club defense. Whether he attempted a goal himself or passed on Denkey does not matter. The top scorer scored the 1-0 and the VAR ruled that everything was correct.
Club started to drift, but would still score. A cross from Thiago deviated twice, just like Nusa’s subsequent shot at Lopes da Silva deviated. It seemed to be 1-1, but Thiago was narrowly offside beforehand. Then rest at 1-0.
Strong Club after half time
After the break, with Sabbe replacing the injured Odoi, Club was more decisive. Nusa was now completely loose. Warleson saved a shot from the left winger that hit the post in the restart.
Nusa again put Warleson to work. The Brazilian saved, but was helped by the post. Club Brugge kept coming. Then another cross that Vanaken – not in his best mood – might have headed better, but which he tapped over with his foot. Cercle couldn’t keep this up.
Vanaken first hit a free kick against the crossbar – the third ball already hit the crossbar – but 10 minutes later it was scored. An individual action by Jutgla ended up with Skov Olsen, who scored the equalizer from close range.
Blue-black kept pumping. Thiago headed wide and Nielsen hit Warleson’s fists, but the score did not change. Club just keeps its neighbor from Bruges behind in the rankings. Anderlecht comes on Sunday and Cercle has to go to Union.
