Club Brugge becomes third Belgian team ever to reach Champions League play-offs

Club Brugge became the third Belgian team ever to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday evening. Never before has a team from Belgium managed to qualify in the tournament after just four matches. Predecessors RSC Anderlecht and KAA Gent reached the play-offs after six games in the group stage.

The Belgian team leads its group with an unprecedented record: 10 points, seven goals scored and not a single goal conceded. Simon Mignolet, who was named 'Player of the Match', spoke of "a dream" after the game. "We fought until the end and we did it," the Belgian goalkeeper said. "In previous years we didn't succeed, but we felt that this year would be different and look, now we qualify. But it doesn't end here, we will see how far we get."

Club Brugge could even end the group stage in first place, which would be another first for a club from Belgium. "Winning the group? Not a factor at the moment," said coach Carl Hoefkens. "But we want to win every game and if that happens, we are going to end in first place."

(TOM)

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