Vanaken's Stoppage-Time Breakthrough
Club Brugge continued their fine run in the 2026/2027 Champions League. At the Jan Breydelstadion, early Thursday (22/10/2026) WIB, Ivan Leko's side thrashed RC Lens 3-0 on league-phase matchday 3.
The first half was tight. Lens stayed disciplined and threatened through Junior Kadile, but Yann Sommer stood firm in goal. The deadlock was broken in stoppage time: in the 45th+3rd minute, captain Hans Vanaken pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired a low shot beyond goalkeeper Risser.
Second-Half Blitz: Seys and Forbs
Brugge emerged with different energy after the restart. Five minutes into the second half, Joaquin Seys doubled the lead — his first effort was saved by Risser, but he converted the rebound to make it 2-0.
Lens tried to respond by introducing Jean-Clair Todibo and Florian Thauvin, but Brugge's midfield controlled the tempo comfortably. In the 72nd minute, Carlos Forbs sealed the victory with a composed finish after being released by substitute Hugo Vetlesen. The third goal capped a perfect evening for the hosts.
Leko's Fury and Crowd Trouble
The convincing win took Club Brugge to six points from three matches, following last week's dramatic 4-3 victory at Inter Milan. Yet coach Ivan Leko was far from satisfied: defender Brandon Mechele revealed the coach was furious in the dressing room at half-time despite the lead. 'Leko woke us up at half-time. It was pretty intense,' Mechele told Belgian reporters.
The match was also marred by trouble in the stands. Lens supporters lit flares and threw them towards the section reserved for supporters with disabilities, injuring a steward and briefly halting play in the first half. Bruges police said they would examine camera footage to identify those responsible.
No comments yet. Be the first!