As one of the few top clubs in Belgium, Club Brugge is a consistent opponent in the play-offs. It is a thorn in the side of chairman Bart Verhaeghe that the tax in the Belgian competition is being increased, just when the quarter- and semi-finals are being played in the European cup competitions. Contesting in a European final with Club Brugge is one of Verhaeghe’s last dreams that have not yet come true since he took office in 2011.
Especially since the reintroduction of a third European Cup in 2021, the chance of a first Belgian finalist since 1993 has increased somewhat. The Conference League offers Club a real opportunity to write history. In the current season, in which the title chances remain slim despite last Sunday’s win against Anderlecht, a European final would give a sweet aftertaste.
In the first leg of the quarter-final against PAOK Saloniki, Club kept its chances of reaching the semi-finals intact. Norwegian midfielder Hugo Vetlesen scored the 1-0 after just six minutes and Club remained dominant for the entire match. The Greek competition leader had traveled to Jan Breydel with many experienced quality players, but hardly created clear chances.
Club did have chances to make it 2-0, in the first half through Thiago and after the break with a good double chance for Ferran Jutgla. But it was mainly a missed penalty from Thiago, after a good substitute from Antonio Nusa, which will continue to reverberate in the event of a non-qualification next Thursday in Greece. Thiago was not the best choice to score the penalty. He has barely scored since his transfer to the Premier League and was shown a yellow card in the first half, which means he is suspended for the second leg.
Precisely because of the pressure of the calendar, interim coach Nicky Hayen had brought in four fresh employees. Hans Vanaken (back after illness), Maxim De Cuyper, Jorne Spileers and Ferran Jutgla replaced Casper Nielsen, Joël Ordoñez, Bjorn Meijer and Antonio Nusa. Those four had started against Anderlecht last Sunday.
Club coach Nicky Hayen said he had to give players rest, but also that he wanted to utilize the quality of his entire core. It appeared to be so. Vanaken, De Cuyper and Jutgla set up Vetlesen’s opening goal. The Norwegian escaped the attention of the retreating Greek defenders and was able to receive and finish the ball at the half-moon mark.
Excellent Vanaken
After the 3-1 win against Anderlecht, the question arose whether Club needed Hans Vanaken in top matches. At home against PAOK, the double Golden Boot was by far the best man on the field. He won duels, accelerated the game and was the basis of most of Bruges’ chances.
If Club has to be dissatisfied with something, it is that it has not converted its dominance in the game into more goals. Next week in Thessaloniki the home crowd will undoubtedly be a factor. The Greeks also dream of a European semi-final and asserted themselves in the city center of Bruges and at the stadium gates by seeking confrontation with the police.
Finally, Brandon Mechele and Maxim De Cuyper also received a suspension. Jorne Spileers had to be replaced with a head injury. If Club reaches the semi-finals, it will face the winner of the match between Fiorentina and Viktoria Plzen, making it this far for the first time since 1992, when it lost to Werder Bremen in the semi-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup.
