Club Brugge kicked off the return round of the Jupiler Pro League with a home game against Dender. The visitors took the lead after fifteen minutes through Kvet, but Club recovered before half-time after goals from Jutglà and Skov Olsen. In the closing stages of the match, Club doubled its tally with a brace from substitute Talbi. On Tuesday Club travels to Patro Eisden Maasmechelen for a place among the last eight in the Belgian cup.
Blauw-Zwart played another strong game in the UEFA Champions League last Wednesday, but in the end had to be satisfied with a draw against Celtic FC. Coach Hayen was left with mixed feelings, but was satisfied with the result. For the confrontation against Dender, he named an unchanged starting line-up with Skov Olsen, Jutglà and Tzolis up front.
As perhaps expected, it was Club that immediately hogged the ball and went forward towards Verrips' goal. That resulted in a first opportunity for Skov Olsen after six minutes, but his attempt was blocked by Goncalves. After fifteen minutes the visitors' game plan was clear: staying well-organized in the back and trying to hurt Club on the counterattack. That payed off when Ferraro played in Scheidler who then feeded the ball to Kvet to tap home. Blauw-Zwart responded swiftly via Tzolis, but the Greek saw his shot go wide.
Halfway through the first half Club had restored the balance when Jutglà linked up with Skov Olsen before sidefooting the ball past Verrips: 1-1. Club then pressed on. Verrips palmed away Jashari's rasping drive and Skov Olsen tried his luck twice: first his curling effort trickled wide, then a looping effort ended on the roof of the goal. Third time's a charm, because a few minutes later the Denmark international scored a brilliant goal when his low drive went in from well outside the penalty area. Club wanted more: De Cuyper's cross just evaded Tzolis and a few minutes Jutglà just couldn't put enough power on his header. Just before the half-time whistle both sets of fans had something to applaud for. For Club it was Tzolis with a strike at goal but too central. At the other side of the pitch Kvet forced Mignolet into making a save on a header. Tzolis had the last say after the first fourty-five minuten when Vanaken found the Greek inside the box and then saw his effort hit the post via Verrips.
The second half started with one change for the visitors. Goalkeeper Verrips was somewhat uncertain before the match and at half-time he was replaced by Devriendt. The first fifteen minutes of the second half were almost identical to the first. Club had the ball, but struggled to find openings against Dender's defensive organization. Coach Hayen tried to change things up with a double substitution just past the hour-mark: Vetlesen and Sabbe came on for Jashari and Seys. Sabbe almost immediately maden an impact with a superb left-footed strike, but his effort took a deflection on a defender.
While Club controlled the game, it still needed to be careful for Dender's counterattacking moves. On 73 minutes Ferraro picked out Rôdes in front of goal who tried to head towards goal, but De Cuyper was there to make it too difficult for him. Hayen made another double substitution by bringing on Skóraś and Talbi. The tempo of the match had dropped significantly in the second half but with just ten more minutes on the clock Club upped the tempo again. Ordóñez and Skóraś failed to get their attempt on goal and after a good attacking move from Club Vanaken made the wrong decission trying to tee up Vetlesen instead of firing at goal. Just before we reached stoppage time, the liberating third goal fell when Sabbe recovered the ball and then found Talbi with a good cross. The youngster did not hesitate to make it three.
Talbi even had a brace with a second goal in stoppage time. Skóraś saw his strike parried away by Devriendt, but the ball fell into the path of Talbi tapping it in easily.
A good win for Club, extending their unbeaten run to eight games across all competitions. On Tuesday, Club faces Patro Eisden Maasmechelen for the Belgian cup Round of 16.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 16
Attendance: 29,042 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Bert Put
FCV Dender EH: Michael Verrips (46' Julien Devriendt) - Karol Fila (24' David Hrncar), Gilles Ruyssen, Kobe Cools, Bryan Goncalves (57' Ragnar Oratmangoen), Joedrick Pupe - Nathan Rôdes, Roman Kvet, Fabio Ferraro (80' Ali Akman) - Mohamed Berte (57' Bruny Nsimba), Aurélien Scheidler.
Bench: Julien Devriendt, Jordy Soladio, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Bruny Nsimba, Desmond Acquah, David Hrncar, Lennard Hens, Ali Akman, Ridwane M'Barki.
Coach: Vincent Euvrard.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (62' Kyriani Sabbe), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari (62' Hugo Vetlesen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (75' Michał Skóraś), Ferran Jutglà (88' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (75' Chemsdine Talbi).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Hugo Siquet, Kyriani Sabbe, Hugo Vetlesen, , Casper Nielsen, Michał Skóraś, Romeo Vermant, Chemsdine Talbi.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: none
Red: none
Goals: 16' Kvet (0-1), 24' Jutglà (1-1), 33' Skov Olsen (2-1), 89' Talbi (3-1), 90+1' Talbi (4-1)