Jupiler Pro League
Club Brugge has taken the lead in the Jupiler Pro League for the first time since matchday four. Blauw-zwart easily beat Racing Genk (0-3) for the second time this week, putting the pressure on Anderlecht and Union, who will be in action later today.
After Wednesday’s 4-0 defeat, Racing Genk wanted to put something right for its own people against Club Brugge. The Limburgers started eagerly and grabbed the visitors by the throat from the first minute. The home team was by far the better team in the first half hour but lacked accuracy, especially in the last third of the field, to convert its dominance into great opportunities.
The best was for Zakaria El Ouahdi, one of the absolute revelations in the Champions’ Play-offs, after just six minutes. The Belgian Moroccan tipped the ball wide after a good dribble. In the first half hour, the visitors did not get further than a heading opportunity for an otherwise fairly invisible Nusa.
KRC Genk forgot to reward themselves and just after the half hour, Club somewhat restored the balance. First, Thiago had a header opportunity after a subtle cross from Vanaken. Five minutes later, Genk was finally defeated. A Sabbe cross fell into the far corner after a miscommunication between McKenzie and Vandevoordt.
Tolu to the side after collision
Despite the lead, Nicky Hayen made adjustments during halftime. Ferran Jutgla came into the team for Antonio Nusa. Five minutes into the second half, Genk almost scored the goal it deserved in the first half. El Khannouss struck with a shot from outside the sixteen meters, Jackers went flat in his short corner.
Five minutes after that save, Simon Mignolet started to warm up. Jackers was left down after a heavy collision with Tolu Arokodare. Both players seemed to be able to continue, but just five minutes after the collision Tolu went to the ground again out of nowhere. The Nigerian could not continue and was replaced by Zeqiri. The Club fans showed their best side and gave Tolu a standing ovation when he made his substitution.
After the first part of the second half, in which the game was too often at a standstill, the focus could return to football. With a leading role for Kyriani Sabbe. Denis Odoi came into the team for Michal Skoras, after which the Bruges youth product started playing as a right winger – Ronny Deila should not have tried it. Sabbe did beat McKenzie on speed and thus offered the detached Vetlesen the 0-2.
Twenty minutes before the end, Igor Thiago closed the books completely. Vetlesen was allowed to run away too easily at the back of the Genk defense after a deep ball from Onyedika. Vetlesen found Thiago who made it 0–3. His second goal in as many games. Our neighbors had not yet started analyzing the match images of Fiorentina.
Without really making waves, blue and black took its seventh win in eight games under Nicky Hayen. For the first time since matchday four, the people of Bruges will again take the lead in the Jupiler Pro League, at least for a while. Who will stop this Club?
