On match day 3 in the League Phase of the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge headed to the Allianz Arena to take on FC Bayern Munich. The home team knew no mercy, as already after 15 minutes they had a double lead to grab after goals from Karl and Kane. A little after the half-hour mark, Díaz provided the 3-0 halftime score. After the break, Jackson finally recorded the final score. Consequently, this Bayern Munich was a size too big for the Brugge players
Last Saturday, Club won with the smallest difference on the field from OH Leuven, but for the leaden assignment against Bayern Munich, Nicky Hayen made some changes to his starting eleven. These were mainly in defense, where two new names appeared on the match sheet. Seys was troubled and started on the bench as a precaution and Sabbe took over at right back. Ordóñez came back into the team at the expense of Spileers. A final change was made in midfield, where Audoor was given a starting place. Sandra had to settle for a substitute role. For the home team, the most notable starter was 17-year-old Karl, who was given his first starting spot in the UEFA Champions League by Kompany.
Blue-Black was by no means impressed by the conditions and started the match fearlessly. That resulted after just two minutes in the first threat through the speedy Forbs. The winger rushed past Laimer and then laid well back for Sabbe. The latter did not hesitate to immediately kick toward goal, but his attempt was too central to worry Neuer. The German's reaction did not last long, however, and it was an instant hit. The young Karl cut through Bruges' midfield and on the edge of the penalty area he smashed the ball past Jackers into the net. The visitors logically had to recover from this early blow and five minutes after ei so already the double lead for Bayern was on the board. The ball was laid aside for Pavlović, who curled the leather very nicely into the corner. Jackers, however, did not feel like taking a second goal so soon and Club's goalie picked out a very clever floating jump to tap the ball against the post. Unfortunately, this proved to be only a stay of execution, as just before the quarter hour mark, the 0-2 did appear on the scoreboard. Laimer was sent deep into the sixteen and then brought the ball diagonally in front of goal to the far post. There the inevitable Kane popped up and he couldn't miss. It was clear that Blauw-Zwart had to face the law of the strongest, but fortunately Jackers was able to prevent worse after twenty minutes. Díaz dribbled his way past Sabbe and sought the short corner with his left, but his shot was cleared out of the corner by Club's goalie.
On the half-hour, 'Der Rekordmeister' showed themselves once again through Karl. After an inswinging pass from Upamecano, the youngster dribbled his way into the sixteen only to luckily put the ball narrowly wide of the first post. A few minutes later, however, the third goal was unfortunate. Díaz was given too much time and space in the penalty area and immediately took advantage of this by firing the ball hard into the goal via the underside of the crossbar. Shortly after, Club responded with a sharp cross from Tzolis. Vanaken was able to deviate the ball lightly with his head, but not enough to frame his attempt. Moments later, Tzolis then went for his own chance after coming in from his left flank. The ensuing shot was framed, but Neuer did not allow himself to be outsmarted. On the stroke of halftime Bayern still had the chance for a fourth goal, but first Díaz did not get past Jackers from close range and then Kane hit the post from a sharp angle. Thus we went to rest with clear figures....
The second half started with two changes at Blauw-Zwart. Siquet and Spileers came into the team at the expense of Sabbe and Forbs, so Club started playing with a five-man defense. Initially Bayern started at a slightly lower pace, but after a good five minutes the first danger came from the home team. On the edge of the sixteen, Kane came in with the ball at foot, only to fish the far corner with his left. Fortunately, Mechele was just able to deviate the leather and so the attempt landed narrowly wide of Jackers' cage. Shortly before the hour, it was the same Kane who was sent in deep and could only go at Club's goalie. The latter fortunately picked out with an excellent reflex on the lob of the top striker and thus prevented worse. The Englishman remained omnipresent, however, but for the time being failed to make his second of the evening. This time it was Spileers who got in the way well to prevent another Kane goal.
The Germans continued to look for that fourth goal, but Blue-Black defended with all their might. First Stanković successfully threw himself into the path of a shot by Goretzka and moments later Jackers stopped an attempt by Olise. The retake was for Jackson, but again Club's closing goal intervened well and then he was helped by Spileers who saved Díaz's attempt off the line. Soon after, that fourth goal came anyway. Olise put the running Laimer alone in front of goal, but he found Spileers in his path. Unfortunately, the leather deviated into the feet of Jackson, who could not miss from close range.
In the end, only two minutes of extra time were counted and in it nothing more changed the score. Blauw-Zwart had to undergo the law of the strongest, losing by clear numbers against a dominant Bayern Munich. Sunday's confrontation against Antwerp awaits.
UEFA Champions League - League Phase (Matchday 3)
Spectators: 75,024 - Allianz Arena
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lit)
FC Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer - Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano (81' Minjae Kim), Jonathan Tah, Raphaël Guerreiro (69' Tom Bischof)- Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, Michael Olise - Lennart Karl (69' Leon Goretzka), Harry Kane (69' Nicolas Jackson), Luis Díaz (81' Wisdom Mike).
Bank: Sven Ulreich, Jonas Urbig, Minjae Kim, Leon Goretzka, Nicolas Jackson, Tom Bischof, Sacha Boey, Wisdom Mike, Vincent Manuba.
Coach: Vincent Kompany.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (46' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Lynnt Audoor (66' Cisse Sandra) - Carlos Forbs (46' Jorne Spileers), Nicolò Tresoldi (66' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (80' Mamadou Diakhon).
Bank: Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Cisse Sandra, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers, Joaquin Seys, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell, Kaye Furo.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Kim
Red cards: none
Goal: 5' Karl (1-0), 14' Kane (2-0), 34' Díaz (3-0), 79' Jackson (4-0)