PLAYER RATINGS | Club Brugge 4-1 Monaco: Humbling defeat for Monégasques in Flanders | OneFootball

The build-up to this season’s Champions League opener has hardly been ideal for Monaco. After their flight to Bruges was delayed until Thursday morning due to an air conditioning problem and a separate technical issue, Adi Hütter announced that captain Denis Zakaria would have to withdraw from the squad due to an adductor injury.

Although their last trip to Flanders ended in a defeat to Lille at the end of August, Les Monégasques did win their following two league games before returning north, this time on the other side of the border. Once again, though, the Principality side decidedly failed to take off.

The visitors would earn a penalty after Mika Biereth was brought down by Simon Mignolet, but the veteran goalkeeper managed to keep out Maghnes Akliouche’s spot-kick. The former Liverpool man would be forced off minutes later, due to an injury he ostensibly picked up in the challenge on Biereth, and replaced by Nordin Jackers.

The Flemish side soon regained control of proceedings, although Monaco were undeterred in their pressing. There were a couple of chances in quick succession for Forbs, both with the Portuguese winger cutting inside and shooting from the edge of the box. It was Nicolo Tresoldi who eventually broke the deadlock for the hosts with a prodding finish past Köhn, having been played through on goal by Hans Vanaken.

Raphael Onnyedika would double the lead before half-time, converting from close range in the aftermath of a corner won by Tzolis. Monaco would concede a third shortly afterwards, with the captain Vanaken sending a volley into the top-right corner from another set-piece situation. It would be a hammer blow for a Monaco side that was already dispirited going into the break, having been outmuscled and outrun throughout the first half.

The technical and physical gulf between the two teams remained evident at the start of the second half. While Monaco would see more of the ball, virtually every turnover would result in a promising chance for the Belgians. The fourth goal would come from former Reims forward Mamadou Diakhon, as the 19-year-old opened his Club Brugge account with a thumping shot from close range after cutting inside from the right.

The sole positive from Monaco’s evening will have been Ansu Fati’s debut. The former Barcelona man, who came on midway through the half, went on to score the consolation goal from a Minamino cutback in stoppage time.

Whether last night’s plane drama will have affected the team will remain unclear. In any case, however, the lack of a cohesive structure is damning. With the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham, and Real Madrid coming up on their Champions League schedule, Adi Hütter will quickly need to find a way to whip this Monaco side into a shape to compete on the continental shape.

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Köhn, 4 – There was little the Swiss goalkeeper could do to stave off the onslaught of Club Brugge attacks in the first half. He did well to keep Tresoldi’s early one-on-one effort, and made a couple of impressive saves immediately before Onyedika doubled the hosts’ lead.

Vanderson, 3

Eric Dier, 2

Christian Mawissa, 2

Caio Henrique, 2 – The Brazilian was run ragged all match by Carlos Forbs, and provided little attacking output. Replaced by Thilo Kehrer (4) at half-time.

Maghnes Akliouche, 3

Aladji Bamba, 2 – The 19-year-old was thrown into the starting lineup for his first Champions League appearance, and barely kept up with an expansive midfield performance from his Flemish counterparts. Replaced by Mamadou Coulibaly (4) at half-time.

Lamine Camara, 3

Takumi Minamino, 4 – Nearly scored himself from a neat turn on the edge of the box before assisting Ansu Fati’s first Monaco goal. Out of all the Monégasque players, the Japanese winger showed the most initiative, although he could have been more selfless with the few final-third balls that came his way in the first half.

Folarin Balogun, 3

Mika Biereth, 3

Club Brugge selected player ratings

Raphael Onyedika, 7

Hans Vanaken, 8 – The long-serving Club Brugge captain was the orchestrator of a dominant attacking performance, notably assisting the opening goal before volleying in a strike into the top right corner himself.

Carlos Forbs, 8 – The Portuguese winger tore through the Monaco backline at every opportunity, breezing past Caio Henrique with ease. Lacked a slightly more accurate final product to get on the scoresheet himself.

Christos Tzolis, 6

Nicolò Tresoldi, 7

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from Bruges