UEFA Champions League: Club Brugge vs Lens report

After a quiet opening, the sport burst into life after 10 minutes because the guests’ Thorgan Hazard had an effort from outdoors the field saved, earlier than failing to climb excessive sufficient to nod house a right-wing cross.

Those possibilities sandwiched a curling Franjo Ivanovic effort that left the far put up rocking, whereas the primary actual opening on the different finish got here to Jan Virgili, who had the sting taken out of his rasping drive by a wonderful block.

It was the French outfit who remained on high although, and Ivanovic fluffed his strains inside the realm. His miskick fortuitously fell on the toes of Junior Kadile although, and his low strike was expertly cleared off the road.

The 23-year-old got here even nearer to his first Champions League aim minutes later when he powerfully nodded down Michael Cuisance’s ball, just for Yann Sommer to make an excellent cease right down to his left.

That save proved essential as Ivan Leko’s males took the lead in opposition to the run of play in first-half damage time, with Hans Vanaken sweeping house from shut vary after Robin Risser might solely push Nicolo Tresoldi’s header into his path.

That prolonged the Blood and Gold’s run with out a clear sheet on this competitors to 16 video games, and issues received worse after the break. Their hosts made it 2-0 inside simply 5 minutes of the restart, when Joaquin Seys noticed his preliminary shot properly saved, solely to burst onto the rebound and elevate it into the again of the online.

The response was nearly fast, although, with Amadou Haidara twice lacking the goal both aspect of Jean-Clair Todibo being denied by Sommer. 

Lens have been by no means going to reply from there, they usually duly discovered themselves three objectives behind after giving the ball away cheaply in midfield. Their opponents counter-attacked at lightning velocity, with Carlos Forbs teed up by Hugo Vetlesen to fit house.

Ivan Leko’s males have been now smelling blood, figuring out a fourth would equal their largest ever win at this stage of the Champions League. It was not forthcoming, as Vanaken couldn’t convert with a free header and Mamadou Diakhon was left pissed off when teammate Hugo Vetlesen deflected his shot vast. 

Brugge, who’ve now misplaced solely considered one of their final six fixtures in opposition to French opposition, have now picked up six factors from their opening three league part video games. Lens, alternatively, didn’t bounce again from their defeat to Sporting on matchday two.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Yann Sommer (Club Brugge)

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