Cercle Brugge And Dender Serve Up Miserable Encounter

In a tense and scrappy affair, Cercle Brugge and Dender fought to a 0-0 draw, with both teams failing to capitalise on several key moments.

The game, played at Jan Breydel Stadium, was characterised by missed opportunities, defensive battles, and a notable VAR incident that could have turned the tide.

Both coaches, Miron Muslic of Cercle Brugge and Vincent Euvrard of Dender, came into the match with strategies that placed less emphasis on possession and more on disrupting their opponent’s flow. This approach resulted in what could best be described as a disjointed, chaotic contest. Possession was frequently squandered, and play patterns were almost non-existent, with long balls and high aerial duels dominating the proceedings.

Euvrard had hoped his side would be able to match Cercle’s physicality. “We always play to win, but I don’t think we deserved it today. Neither did Cercle,” Euvrard remarked after the match. He acknowledged his team’s strong defensive performance but admitted that the overall quality of play left much to be desired: “The positive thing is that we got a clean sheet for the second match in a row, but this was not good football. We are now in the top 6, but based on today’s game, we’re not a team for the top 6.”

The first half set the tone for the match, with both teams struggling to find rhythm. Cercle’s best chance of the half came through Hannes Van der Bruggen, whose shot was comfortably saved by Dender goalkeeper Michael Verrips. Meanwhile, Dender’s attack lacked precision, and they failed to capitalise on set-piece opportunities. A powerful effort from Nsimba was blocked by a Cercle defender, sparing Cercle’s blushes.

The second half was not much of an improvement, but it did offer a few flashes of excitement. Just after the 20-minute mark, Cercle nearly earned a penalty after goalkeeper Verrips appeared to collide with Diakité in the box. After reviewing the incident via VAR, referee Bert Put took his time but ultimately decided against awarding the penalty, leaving Cercle’s supporters in disbelief. Cercle coach Muslic expressed his frustration, saying, “There weren’t too many moments of sparkle, but we could have won here. I’m thinking mainly of the ball on the post by Olaigbe.”

Indeed, the game’s most thrilling moment came in the closing stages, when substitute Kazeem Olaigbe struck a low, diagonal shot that beat Verrips but agonisingly bounced off the post. The Cercle fans were already on their feet, celebrating what they thought was the winning goal, only for the ball to roll out harmlessly.

As the match drew to a close, tempers flared when Dender substitute Jordy Soladio received two yellow cards in quick succession, reducing his team to ten men. Despite this advantage, Cercle Brugge were unable to break down a stubborn Dender defence, and the game ended as it began – with neither side able to score.

This result leaves Cercle Brugge only four points above the relegation zone, a situation that Muslic will surely be eager to address. On the other hand, Dender’s defensive resilience has secured them a place in the top six, although even their coach admitted they did not play like a top team on the day.

A Tactical Misfire from Both Teams

From a tactical perspective, this match was an example of how two teams can neutralise each other into irrelevance. Neither Cercle Brugge nor Dender seemed willing or able to take control of the game, and the result was a contest devoid of clear attacking strategies. Both managers emphasised defensive solidity, which may have contributed to the chaotic aerial football that dominated much of the 90 minutes.

For Cercle, the VAR decision will sting, but their inability to score against ten men in the dying minutes raises serious questions about their finishing ability. Dender, meanwhile, may celebrate their defensive achievements, but they cannot rely on clean sheets alone to maintain their position in the top six. Both teams will need to show more ambition if they are to rise above mediocrity in the coming matches.