Club Brugge faced KV Mechelen on Match Day 4 of the Champions' Playoffs in a midweek carbon copy of the encounter of just one month ago. After an early lead through Vetlesen, Mechelen drew level as Konaté headed it home. A furious start to the second half put Club back in the driver's seat as it soon became 4-1 after goals by Stanković, Forbs and Tresoldi. The final say was for captain Vanaken and Tzolis from the spot, making it an emphatic 6-1 win for Club. With Union stuck at a draw against Gent, Club now inches back to two points from the league leaders.
A narrow defeat at Union for Club over the weekend, but fortunately, there wasn't really much time to brood, as just three days later the home game against KV Mechelen followed. Coach Ivan Leko made three changes to his Starting XI compared to last Sunday's team. In defense, Meijer made room for Siquet and Seys moved back to his familiar position at left back. In midfield, Vanaken rejoined the team, replacing the slightly injured Onyedika. Finally, Tresoldi was chosen over Vermant this time.
The visitors were in sixth place, and in order to get that coveted European ticket, they had better move up the table sooner rather than later, so they claimed the ball in the opening minutes, without causing any concrete danger. Club responded very wisely, and a first fluent attack was golden: Tresoldi and Tzolis with the neat combination to put it sharply in front of goal only to meet Forbs by the far post who laid it back to find Vetlesen putting Club in the lead just four minutes in. The train now firmly on the tracks, Club kept coming and more danger followed as another fine Tzolis cross brushed the head of Vanaken and also went past Tresoldi by the far post. KV Mechelen had trouble fighting back, but equalised out of nowhere after ten minutes: Van Brederode with a laser cut free kick finding Konaté in front of goal to head it in from close range to make it 1-1. The momentum shifted somewhat, as Jackers had to pull out all the stops to tap a long range effort from Servais over his crossbar.
Halfway through the first half, Club reestablished its rhythm. First Forbs had fine intentions as he sent in another solid cross, but it just failed to find a teammate and shortly afterwards it was Stanković twice who tried his luck, but saw his shot deflected into corner kick, and in that same corner kick he was able to head by the second post from close range, but Miras was not to be outsmarted. Mechelen, however, did not let up either and reacted via a quick counterattack; Antonio brings the ball low in front of goal and there Mrabti sticks out another cat's paw, beating Jackers in the process, but fortunately the post saved the day. The game was now in balance, as Club also took Miras under fire. Siquet tried from just outside the penalty area, but his blast was worked into a corner by Mechelen's goalie. Moments later it was Stanković' turn again via a free kick, but his deviated shot posed no problem for Miras.
The same 22 started the second half and it was clear from kick-off that Club had come out of the locker room with a lot of attacking spirit, resulting in another lead just seconds in: Stanković first with the recovery on the edge of the penalty area followed up with a great touch to the ball to fire it in off the post to make it 2-1. The home team wanted to press immediately and a few minutes later Tzolis created some space for himself, but his kick from a distance unfortunately went over Miras' cage. Club kept pressing, and ten minutes after Stanković's goal, the crowd cheered again: Vanaken found the free Forbs on the break, and eye-to-eye with Miras, the Portuguese winger did not hesitate (3-1). Club still wasn't satisfied, and a fourth soon followed as Vetlesen put Tresoldi neatly through with the German slamming in the 4-1. A little before halfway through the second half, Club seemed goalbound again, but with a clever reflex Miras prevented another goal by Stanković.
Both trainers then decided to make a triple substitution, but this did not immediately change the game. The substitute Onyedika also went close to scoring a goal, but his shot went just wide of the far post. The fifth goal soon followed, however, as Siquet put the ball hard in front of goal where Miras pushed the ball into the eager feet of captain Vanaken, scoring one of the easiest goals of his career. There was only one team on the pitch in the second half, and the hosts just kept coming, with chances for Vermant.
Two minutes of extra time were added, and still Club's attacking efforts did not abate, as Forbs pushed forward at speed inside the box, only to be pushed down by Diouf. A VAR intervention followed, leading to a red card for Diouf, allowing Tzolis to hammer in the 6-1 from the spot. A huge win for Club, not only on the score card, but also in the table, as the team creeps closer to Union in the table.
Champions' Play-offs - Match day 4
Audience: 29,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Bram Van Driessche
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Hugo Siquet, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (70' Bjorn Meijer) - Aleksandar Stanković (70' Raphael Onyedika), Hugo Vetlesen (81' Cisse Sandra), Hans Vanaken (86' Gustaf Nilsson) - Carlos Forbs, Nicolò Tresoldi (70' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Bjorn Meijer, Jorne Spileers, Cisse Sandra, Raphael Onyedika, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
KV Mechelen: Nacho Miras - José Marsà, Mory Konaté, Tommy St. Jago - Mathis Servais, Kerim Mrabti, Fredrik Hammar (68' Gora Diouf), Thérence Koudou (68' Keano Van Rafelghem) - Myron van Brederode, Bouke Boersma (85' Mauro Lenaerts), Bill Antonio (68' Massimo Decoene).
Bench: Ortwin De Wolf, Gora Diouf, Maksim Kireev, Bilal Bafdili, Hassane Bandé, Ian Struyf, Lovro Golič, Keano Van Rafelghem, Mauro Lenaerts, Massimo Decoene.
Coach: Frederik Vanderbiest.
Yellow: Hammar, Konaté
Red: Diouf
Goals: 4' Vetlesen (1-0), 10' Konaté (1-1), 46' Stanković (2-1), 56' Forbs (3-1), 60' Tresoldi (4-1), 78' Vanaken (5-1), 90+5' Tzolis (6-1)