A massive win for Club Brugge in the Champions League, sending Sporting Lisbon off 2-1. An early lead for Sporting was cancelled out halfway through the first half by Christos Tzolis, and with five minutes on the clock, Casper Nielsen made sure the points remained at Jan Breydel with the perfect crossed shot: 2-1!
Hayen made four changes to his starting line-up compared to Saturday's stoppage time win at Mechelen, with match winner Ordóñez returning to the team, while Onyedika also reinstated his starting spot, referring Spileers and Vetlesen back to the bench. Up front, Jutglà and Tzolis were given the nod over Vermant and Talbi. A win against Sporting would mean Club gathered ten points in the Champions League, which could be enough to advance to the next round.
With three losses in their last three games, Sporting Lisbon seemed to be at a loss, but those three consecutive setbacks had not lead to a more cagey approach. The visitors monopolized the ball right from kick-off and scored just two minutes in when Catamo tapped home on the rebound after Araújo had struck the post. A few moments later Quenda's shot flew wide. It took Club fifteen minutes to get into the game with long-distance strikes from Jashari and De Cuyper - both going wide.
But Club upped the pressure on Sporting and leveled things up on 25 minutes when Tzolis saw his effort take a deflection on Quaresma before it rippled the net. Just moments later, the audience still celebrating the equaliser, referee Taylor pointed to the spot when Skov Olsen brought down Araújo. Fortunately, VAR ruled that the foul had been committed just outside the box, after which Gyökeres skied the free-kick. In the closing minutes of the first half Club were closest to scoring again: first goalkeeper Israel parried away Skov Olsen's strike and blocked Tzolis' attempt.
Club carved out the first after the break when De Cuyper whipped in a fine cross, but it flew just past Vanaken and Skov Olsen. Just before the hour mark, Tzolis was close to scoring again when he poked the ball just wide after an intelligent run through Sporting's defence. Club dominated the game now and Nicky Hayen brought on two sets of fresh legs with Nilsson and Talbi. The former almost immediately got his name on the scoresheet, but he just couldn't deflect Jashari's long-distance strike towards goal.
The sizzling atmosphere at Jan Breydel pushed the players forward and five minutes before the end it all erupted when Casper Nielsen struck home, after he had just come on. Absolute scenes at Jan Breydel, and Sporting tried to salvage a point in the closing stages, but Mignolet was not bothered by Trincão's tame effort.
Blauw-Zwart keeps the three points home and has now gathered ten, which could be enough to go through to the knock-out stages.
UEFA Champions League - Match day 6
Attendance: 25,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Anthony Taylor (Eng)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper (90+1' Kyriani Sabbe) - Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (64' Chemsdine Talbi), Ferran Jutglà (64' Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis (81' Casper Nielsen). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Romeo Vermant and Jorne Spileers. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Sporting Lisbon: Franco Israel - Eduardo Quaresma (45' Jeremiah St Juste), Ousmane Diomande, Matheus Reis - Geny Catamo, Morten Hjulmand, João Simões, Geovany Quenda (87' Conrad Harder) - Maximilano Araújo, Francisco Trincão, Viktor Gyökeres. Coach: Tiago Teixeira.
Yellow: Skov Olsen, Gyökeres, Tzolis, Onyedika, Catamo, Mignolet, Araújo, Hjulmand.
Red: none
Goals: 3' Catamo (0-1), 24' Quaresma (owngoal, 1-1), 84' Nielsen (2-1).