Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika delivered a commanding midfield performance as Club Brugge secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Olympique Marseille to book their place in the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
The Belgian champions made a flying start and went ahead in the 4th minute with a well-worked team move. Aleksandar Stankovic drove in from the right flank and fed Hans Vanaken, whose clever dummy allowed the ball to fall kindly for Mamadou Diakhon. The forward struck first time, and although goalkeeper Pau López Rulli got a hand to it, the ball still found its way into the net.
Club Brugge doubled their advantage just seven minutes later. Carlos Forbs released a long ball down the byline to Stankovic, whose initial effort came back off the post. Romeo Vermant reacted quickest to volley the rebound into the net and put the hosts firmly in control.
Marseille attempted to respond after the break and came close in the 55th minute when Brugge made an error playing out from the back. Leonardo Balerdi picked out Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who turned and fired a powerful shot, but Simon Mignolet was equal to the effort and his defence cleared the danger.
Any hopes of a comeback were ended when Brugge struck again. Forbs broke through on goal and although he failed to beat Rulli while attempting to dribble past him, the ball fell kindly and was recycled to Stankovic. The midfielder hit a fierce shot that flew into the net to make it 3-0 and seal a dominant display.
The comprehensive win confirmed Club Brugge’s qualification for the Champions League playoffs as they finished 19th in the league phase standings.
Raphael Onyedika completed the full 90 minutes and was outstanding in midfield, completing 32 of his 39 passes, registering 56 touches, nine recoveries, two interceptions and winning two tackles in a disciplined and energetic performance.
Before this match, Marseille had won both previous meetings between the sides during the 1992/93 Champions League campaign, but Club Brugge once again showed their growing dominance at home against French opposition, adding this victory to their earlier 4-1 win over Monaco in the same competition.
