Club Brugge overpower Marseille to reach Champions League qualifying round
Club Brugge enjoyed another memorable European night at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday, finishing with a 3–0 victory over Olympique de Marseille and securing a second consecutive qualification for the Champions League qualifying round.
“This is what we were hoping for, and it's very much deserved. This is a big win for Belgian football,” head coach Ivan Leko said after the match. “We showed how brave and strong we have to be against an opponent who, on paper, is stronger than us. I'm very proud of this. This is an important evening for us and Belgian football. We're winning here today against a big team.”
The result marks a clear turnaround for Club Brugge following a difficult spell after the winter break. Defeats against La Louvière and Charleroi had placed Leko under pressure, but successive wins over Kairat Almaty, Zulte Waregem and now Marseille have solidified the coach’s position.
The Croatian coach remained measured in his assessment. “If I lose twice, I don't think I'm a bad coach. After this win, I'm not Guardiola," he said. "I've been in football for a long time, and I know how it works. You have to learn from defeats, and after big wins, you have to be humble and keep working.”
Aleksandar Stankovic was named player of the match after contributing a goal and two assists. Leko was full of praise for the midfielder’s attitude and professionalism. “He's a fantastic guy. He's one of the greatest professionals I've ever seen," he said. "He's invested so much in his career. We all know he's a good player. He's very down-to-earth and humble. In my experience, the greatest players are also the most humble. If Stankovic continues like this, I'm sure he'll have a great career. It's fun to work with him.”
In goal, Simon Mignolet was preferred over Nordin Jackers and proved decisive after the break, producing several key saves to keep Club Brugge in control. “We know what Simon Mignolet means to Club Brugge," Leko said. "The goalkeeper's role is important in many sports. If Simon and Nordin are up to par, we have two very good goalkeepers.”
The decision paid off with another clean sheet, following a period in which they had conceded too many goals. “
#FlandersNewsService | Club Brugge's Belgian midfielder Hans Vanaken and Marseille's English forward Mason Greenwood during the the Champions League match at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, 28 January 2026 © NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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