Club Brugge drew 3-3 against FC Barcelona after a spectacular game. Blauw-Zwart took the lead three times: first through Tresoldi and then twice through Forbs, but Barça equalized each time. In the closing stages, Vermant seemed to give Club a stunt victory after all, but his winning goal was disallowed.
Nicky Hayen made one change to the team that beat Dender on Saturday. Raphael Onyedika came into the squad at the expense of Romeo Vermant. Captain Hans Vanaken - who played his 100th European game - was therefore able to return to his familiar position as an attacking midfielder. Tresoldi started again as the deepest striker and was flanked by Forbs and Tzolis.
The Bruges players were unimpressed by Barça's star ensemble and started the game excellently. After barely a minute of play, Tzolis created the first danger, but goalkeeper Szczesny had no problems with his shot. Club played with confidence and rocked Jan Breydel five minutes later: Forbs escaped on the right and laid the ball ready for Tresoldi, who tapped in the 1-0. The joy did not last long, however, because a minute later the score was level again after Ferran Torres converted a cross from Fermín López.
The Spaniards immediately pushed on: thus López curled the leather against the outside of the post, while an effort by Rashford whizzed half a meter over the cross. Blauw-Zwart escaped with a scare and struck mercilessly after a quarter of an hour. After a lightning-fast counter, Tzolis launched Carlos Forbs. The Portuguese turned on his turbo again, stormed towards Szczesny and curled the 2-1 beautifully into the goal.
Barcelona then regained command and created several chances for the equalizer: a shot by Rashford went wide, a shot by Koundé licked the top of the crossbar and Jackers parried a shot by Rashford again. Club defended well in block and occasionally tried to poke against. Szczesny had to save on a shot by Tzolis and moments later Vanaken just could not serve the Greek. On the stroke of half-time Blauw-Zwart got away well when Torres was unable to convert a quick counter.
After the break, the first danger came again from the Brugge players: Seys tried from an acute angle, but Szczesny saved. On the other side, Jackers also had to show his ability on attempts by Lopez and Yamal. On the hour Hansi Flick brought in two more world class players: Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski. That injection of quality immediately paid off for Barça. First a blast from Garcia burst onto the crossbar, but immediately after that Lamine Yamal picked up a great move that he also subtly finished himself.
Club immediately tried to respond, but Forbs missed the chance to make it 3-2. Not to worry because a minute later it was still on target. Vanaken launched the Portuguese express train again and the Portuguese stabbed the third Bruges goal into the net. Ten minutes later referee Taylor pointed to the spot after a foul on Forbs, but after viewing the footage he reversed his decision as the Portuguese lay down too eagerly. No final shot for Barcelona, who continued to create danger mainly through Yamal. Jackers first saved his shot in the top corner and then saw another attempt fly over the goal.
A quarter of an hour before time, the Spanish prodigy succeeded. Yamal curled the ball towards goal and via the head of Tzolis the 3-3 went in. In the closing stages it remained unusually exciting. At the start of injury time Blauw-Zwart seemed to have pulled off its stunt, but that was not counting on English ref Taylor. Vermant was able to punish a blunder by Szczesny, but after reviewing the footage the goal was disallowed and it remained 3-3. Club Brugge thus takes its fourth point in the Champions League.
UEFA Champions League - Playday 4
Spectators: 29,042 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Eng)
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković, Raphaël Onyedika (84' Lynnt Audoor, 87' Hugo Vetlesen), Hans Vanaken, Romeo Vermant - Carlos Forbs (78' Mamadou Diakhon), Nicolò Tresoldi (78' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis. Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Cisse Sandra, Gustaf Nilsson, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers and Shandre Campbell. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
FC Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny - Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Eric García (90+3' Pau Cubarsi), Alejandro Balde (90+3' Gerard Martin) - Frenkie De Jong, Marc Casadó (58' Dani Olmo) - Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Marcus Rashford (83' Roony Bardghji) - Ferran Torres (58' Robert Lewandowski). Coach: Hansi Flick.
Yellow cards: Onyedika, Koundé, Diakhon, Yamal, Lopez.
Red cards: none
Goals: 6' Tresoldi (1-0), 7' Torres (1-1), 17' Forbs (2-1), 61' Yamal (2-2), 63' Forbs (3-2), 77' Tzolis (owngoal, 3-3).