Club Brugge cannot continue Champions League victory and fail in Liège


Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 8:32 PM• Paul Jeursen • Last update: 21:01

Club Brugge has given the impressive midweek Champions League victory over FC Porto (0-4) a dramatic result. In the Jupiler Pro League, Standard Liège lost: 3-0. A double hit by starting debutant Philip Zinckernagel was the basis of the defeat for Carl Hoefkens’ team. With the win, Standard climbs to fifth place in the ranking. The Bruges residents remain in third place.

Carl Hoefkens hardly tinkered with his starting eleven. Of the players that FC Porto rolled up last week, only one name was missing: Ferrán Jutglà had to make way for the Bruges record purchase Roman Yaremchuk. So Bjorn Meijer was also in the starting line-up. Noa Lang was still missing due to an injury and Ruud Vormer was not part of the selection. At Standard, former youth player of Vitesse Noah Ohio was on the bench. Club Brugge often has a very difficult time at Sclessin. The reigning national champion booked the last victory in Liège in January 2017, when it became 0-3. In addition, Standard was in good form, winning their last three games.

It was the visitors who mainly had the ball in the first half. Yet it was Standard that suddenly scored via William Balikwisha. However, the party in Liège was cancelled, because Balikwisha was sidelined. Despite the field dominance of the visitors, Standard was the first to cheer. After half an hour of play, Zinckernagel got it on his hips. A few yards from the box, he lashed out diagonally from the right-hand side. Simon Mignolet was transfixed and saw the Dane’s shot go into the far corner. Club Brugge failed to get a ball between the posts once in the first half.

Five minutes after the break, Club Brugge thought they would get a penalty. Referee Jasper Vergoote had already pointed to the spot after Casper Nielsen had shot the ball against Noë Dussenne’s arm. However, after VAR interference, the decision was reversed. Dussenne’s arm hung naturally at his side. Club Brugge continued to look for the equalizer and after a good cross from Skov Olsen, Meijer headed over. It were lesson Rouches however, who were able to cheer for the second time and again it was Zinckernagel who scored. He dived into the box, sent Brandon Mechele into the woods and shot hard and low. Not much later, the Dane had to leave the field injured. His replacement, Osher Davida, put Mignolet to work immediately after his substitute. However, the final score of 3-0 was put on the board by Balikwisha just before time. After that, he could immediately take a shower, because he took off his shirt and received his second yellow card.