With a solid 4-1 win against AS Monaco, Club Brugge has hit the ground running in this season's Champions League campaign. Mignolet was the hero early on in the game saving a penalty kick, but after that the game only really knew one true contender. Goals courtesy of Tresoldi, Onyedika and Vanaken made it an unassailable half time lead, and Diakhon put even more distance with the visitors with fifteen minutes to go. In injury time, Ansu Fati scored Monaco's sole goal.
Four changes to last Saturday's Starting XI as Mignolet came on for Jackers in goal, seeing Ordóñez preferred over Spileers, and in midfield Onyedika reclaimed his spot at the expense of Audoor, while Tzolis earned another start, referring Diakhon to the bench.
Off to an excruciating start, Club created a first whopper of a chance just five minutes in, as Forbs pulled it back to find Tzolis, but the Greek put it just wide in what seemed a sure goal. Clearly in charge in the opening minutes, Club suffered a blow upon the very first time Monaco made its way to Mignolet, who seemed to tap away the ball out of the feet of Biereth, but ref Sozza did not hesitate to point towards the spot, and much to everyone's surprise, the Italian was not overruled by VAR. French international Akliouche picke up the ball, but saw how Mignolet picked the right corner to keep it at 0-0. Moments later, Club's goalie was forced to be taken off with an injury, Jackers taking his place between the posts.
The penalty situation came with a surge of energy to the hosts, and AS Monaco was now truly seeing stars. A threefold attempt for Tresoldi proved unsuccessful, and goalkeeper Köhn produced fine saves to deny several attempts by Tzolis and Forbs. Thirty minutes into the game, Club finally made it to the scoreline: Vanaken was neatly found inside the box by Onyedika, and Club's skipper retained his cool as he picked out Tresoldi, with the German neatly slicing in the 1-0. Moments later, Forbs' defender again got the chills as he saw the Portuguese start one of his great runs, teeing up Tzolis, but this time Köhn proved the better of the shot, tapping it into corner kick. It proved to be of no avail, as the visiting goalie again had a great save in store to deny a glorious header by Stanković, but the ball was put in front of goal again to find Onyedika, all too eager to tuck in the 2-0. The stadium erupted, and was still celebrating as Hans Vanaken took a cleared corner kick in one go, and with a stroke of genius aimed it in the top right hand corner to make it a reassuring 3-0.
Club kept pressing through after the break, with a shot by an ever-threatening Tzolis chipping off a defender into corner kick, Stanković, found by the far post, unable to head it home, and a powered shot by Forbs whizzing over. Monaco also tried to claw back into the game, but Jackers knew no trouble with a Biereth shot, and had a fine foot reflex in store moments later. Still, Club remained the more industrious team as Tzolis cut inside but aimed it just wide, and Tresoldi saw his shot blocked a bit later.
The 4-0 was up in the air, and came with fifteen minutes to play. Seys with the perfect rush on the left, setting up Diakhon by the far post, who dummied a couple of defenders before hammering it in by the first post with his first goal for Club Brugge against his compatriots. With just a few minutes to play, Minamino saw a shot go over, but it was Ansu Fati with the final say in the game, making it 4-1 on the night.
UEFA Champions League – Match Day 1
Audience: 29,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Simone Sozza (Ita)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet (19’ Nordin Jackers) – Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez (80’ Jorne Spileers), Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer (61’ Joaquin Seys) – Aleksandar Stanković, Raphael Onyedika (80’ Lynnt Audoor), Hans Vanaken – Carlos Forbs (61’ Mamadou Diakhon), Nicolò Tresoldi, Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Hugo Vetlesen, Cisse Sandra, Gustaf Nilsson, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers, Lynnt Audoor, Joaquin Seys, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell and Kaye Furo.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
AS Monaco: Philippe Köhn – Vanderson, Eric Dier, Christian Mawissa (78’ Kassoum Ouattara), Caio Henrique (46’ Thilo Kehrer) – Maghnes Akliouche, Aladji Bamba (46’ Mamadou Coulibaly), Lamine Camara, Takumi Minamino – Mika Biereth (63’ George Ilenikhena), Folarin Balogun (63’Ansu Fati).
Coach: Adolf Hütter.
Yellow: Mignolet, Mawissa, Vanaken, Coulibaly.
Red: none.
Goals: 32’ Tresoldi (1-0), 39’ Onyedika (2-0), 42’ Vanaken (3-0), 75’ Diakhon (4-0), 90+2’ Fati (4-1).