After barely 36 minutes, Club was completely on roses in a sun -drenched Jan Breydel stadium. After a great action by Ardon Jashari on the left, Hans Vanaken only had to tap in after 26 minutes: 0-1. After this it was up to Ferran Jutgla to dissolve his devils. After 34 minutes it was Vanaken who served him the 0-2, another two minutes later the Spaniard preparatory work by Chemsdine Talbi finished perfectly: 0-3 at half time. That was also the final score of the game in the first round between the two teams. Previously, the five previous confrontations had always delivered a draw.
Just before the hour there was a lifeline for Cercle, when Ibrahim Diakite extended a corner through the legs of Maxim de Cuyper in goal. Furthermore, the ‘home team’ no longer came. Six out of six for Club this season in the city derby and also the first victory in the Jupiler Pro League since the 1-0 against OHL on 8 February. Cercle is in dirty papers and will have to shake at least week.
Blauw-Zwart needs a victory with three goals difference on Wednesday in the return match of the eighth finals in the Champions League at Aston Villa to move on to the next round, but that promises to be another pair of sleeves. Cercle is almost eliminated European, after the 3-0 defeat visiting Jagiellonia, in the eighth finals of the Conference League.
For Cercle, the focus is entirely on preservation in the highest department and that is anything but a certainty at the moment. With 32 points in twelfth place, the association is barely one point above the relegation zone, while first pursuer Westerlo still has two games to play. Starting Sunday afternoon against Anderlecht and on the final play day at Rode Lantaarn Beerschot. Cercle has to go to Anderlecht this weekend and looks at a heavier program.
After the sixteenth league, Club remains with 56 points in the wake of leader KRC Genk, which has nine points more after his flooded victory of Saturday evening on Dender’s field. Genk receives vice champion Union on the final match day, while Blauw-Zwart hosts for Charleroi. Afterwards the Champions’ Play-Off starts and the points are divided by two.