By creating the best opportunities, but forgetting to make them happen, Club Brugge was set to fall back into its mistakes. Fortunately for the Blauw & Zwart, Tyrone Mings’ surreal error passed by.
Fourth Champions League meeting for Club Brugge, which hosted Aston Villa, current sixth-ranked force in England, this Wednesday. A meeting for which Youri Tielemans, whistled at each touch of the ball because of his Anderlecht past, starts, unlike Amadou Onana sitting on the bench, but applauded when he went to warm up.
As against Dortmund, as in Milan and as in the Pro League, the Club wastes its opportunities
On the pitch, we had to wait before seeing the game settle. The first quarter of an hour is rich in intensity and duels, but poor in opportunities. Tielemans hits in the clouds and is shocked by the whole stadium (11th), while De Cuyper’s shot outside the rectangle, on a free kick played in two stages, directly found Martinez (15th).
While Aston Villa were disappointing and sorely lacking in creativity, Bruges accelerated in the last quarter of an hour of the period. Superbly served, Jutgla saw his face-to-face deflected by Martinez making an extraordinary save on the post, before the second ball struck by Jashari, again on the Argentinian goalkeeper (30th). A few moments later, Nielsen’s header found Mings, almost on the goal line (34th). The Blauw & Zwart had the biggest chances, but the score was goalless at halftime.
“Same old story”, we say to ourselves, reusing the words of Nicky Hayen after the defeat in Milan. Bruges dominated the start of the match, but did not convert their chances. At San Siro, the bill was steep, as against Borussia Dortmund. And generally, in the Champions League…
The surreal mistake that gave Club Brugge victory against Aston Villa
But this time, Bruges is helped… by its opponent. On a restart from six meters, Emiliano Martinez shifts for Mings, right next to him. The English defender, incomprehensibly, then takes the ball from his hands, before returning it to his goalkeeper. Referee Tobias Stieler indicates the penalty spot, his opinion is confirmed by the VAR. In a phase that could have been described as “Belgian surrealism”, the Club took control, via Vanaken (1-0, 52nd).
It’s Christmas before time with this improbable penalty for Bruges. Hans Vanaken takes advantage of the gift and makes it 1-0! ???? #CLUAVL #RTLsports pic.twitter.com/P2qRiD2ZVi— RTL sports (@RTLsportsbe) https://twitter.com/RTLsportsbe/status/1854239393566912730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The end of the meeting got even more wild. Aston Villa moved a step higher to try to come back, which allowed the Blauw & Zwart to have space at the back. Leon Bailey, formerly of Genk, accumulated the crosses kept aside by the defense, while the recovery of Skov Olsen, served by Talbi after a long tumble, grazed the crossbar (71st).
In the final minutes, Nicky Hayen’s players still got a few interesting balls, but they were mostly content to keep the result. Club Brugge won a second meeting in this Champions League campaign and temporarily moved up to 20th place, while Aston Villa suffered their first defeat after their three inaugural successes. What an evening at Jan Breydel!
