Club Brugge defeated FCV Dender 2-1 on their own field. Blauw-Zwart had a double lead after half an hour thanks to Tresoldi and Tzolis, but then failed to decide the match definitively. In injury time, Berte scored the tying goal for the visitors.
Nicky Hayen opted for his usual starting line-up after the cup match against Eendracht Aalst Lede. Mechele and Vanaken remained, but nine new names appeared at the start. Compared to last week's match against Antwerp, there was only one substitution: Audoor made room for Tresoldi. As a result, Vermant moved back one row and played as an attacking midfielder, while Tresoldi was deep in the striker.
Dender had not won yet this season, but dared to put high pressure. It also forced the first danger: Nsimba went down a little too eagerly after a duel with Mechele and so referee Van Damme allowed the game to continue. Club then took command and tried to create openings in the visiting block: first Dietsch had a fine foot reflex on a shot by Tzolis and then a cross from Stanković whizzed over goal. After a quarter of an hour it worked: Forbs pushed forward on the right and served Tresoldi, who kicked in the 1-0.
The visitors refused to give in and played two good chances. For example, Jackers had to go well flat on a low slider from Toshevski and then also punch away a hard shot from Sambu. Club was warned and struck mercilessly on the half-hour mark. Forbs again turned on his turbo on the right and served Tzolis in the sixteen yards. His shot was blocked at first, but the Greek was able to fuse goalkeeper Dietsch on the resumption, knocking in the 2-0. In the closing stages of the first half, a shot by Viltard went over goal and Vanaken was also unable to frame a header.
After the break, the Brugge players immediately went in search of a third goal. Vanaken was able to clear Vermant with an ingenious pass, but his shot splattered against the underside of the crossbar. Moments later, Dietsch made a good save on an attempt by Tzolis. At the other end, Nsimba's shot sailed half a meter wide.
Blauw-Zwart controlled the game and did not want to use up too much strength in view of next Wednesday's Champions League match against FC Barcelona. It did get several more chances to make it 3-0: a header by Tresoldi went wide, a hard shot by Vermant was saved by Dietsch and after a fine action by Tresoldi, the German Italian's shot went wide. Moments later, an effort by Forbs was blocked and a shot by Sabbe went well wide.
There was no decisive third goal, so Dender retained a glimmer of hope. Kadiri intercepted a back pass from substitute Onyedika, but Jackers kept the score on the board. At the start of injury time, however, the Bruges goalkeeper had to give in when Mohamed Berte kicked in the short corner. The 2-1 remained on the board, however, and so Club Brugge took its fifth victory in a row.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 13
Spectators: 25,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Kevin Van Damme
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (89' Hugo Siquet) - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Romeo Vermant (62' Raphael Onyedika) - Carlos Forbs (79' Shandre Campbell), Nicolò Tresoldi, Christos Tzolis (79' Mamadou Diakhon). Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Hugo Vetlesen, Cisse Sandra, Jorne Spileers and Kaye Furo. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
FCV Dender EH: Guillaume Dietsch - Marsoni Sambu, Luc Marijnissen, Benjam Fredrick, Bryan Goncalves (71' Nail Moutha-Sebtaoui), Fabio Ferraro - Malcolm Viltard (82' Nathan Rôdes), Noah Mbamba (82' Jordan Kadiri), Roman Kvet (63' Desmond Acquah) - Bruny Nsimba, David Toshevski (63' Mohamed Berthe). Coach: Hayk Milkon.
Yellow cards: Stanković, Kadiri.
Red cards: none
Goals: 17' Tresoldi (1-0), 29' Tzolis (2-0), 90+1' Berte (2-1).