Bruges had no choice: to stay alive in the Champions League, they had to win in Astana against Kairat Almaty. Seriously, the Blauw & Zwart won 1-4.
Bruges didn’t really have a choice this Tuesday evening in the Champions League. Bruges traveled to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty, last in this league phase.
After hitting the post with a long-range shot from Diakhon, Bruges took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark. On a poor clearance from the goalkeeper’s fist, Stankovic sent a beautiful half-volley from distance to place the ball in the back.
5 minutes later, it was Vanaken who doubled the lead with his shin after a good header from Seys in the small rectangle. It was not until the 75th minute that the score increased, when Vermant made it 0-3 with a rebound in the small rectangle. Mechele, in the 84th minute, made it 0-4 with a header. Sadybekov then made 1-4 to save the honor.
With these 3 points, Bruges maintains its chances of qualifying for the play-offs, reserved, as we recall, for teams which appear between 9th and 24th place in the ranking.
And directly
It’s over!
End of the match in Astana! Bruges won 1-4 after a nice goal from Sadybakov at the end of the match.
AND 4!
Brandon Mechele makes it 0-4! He heads well a vicious ball slipped to the small rectangle. Gorgeous !
BUUUUUUUUT!
Romeo Vermant makes 0-3! We felt it coming. On a good ball in the small rectangle, the Red Devil pushes the ball deep, full axis from the small rectangle. It was Diakhon who offered him this caviar.
Bruges grows
Bruges is putting pressure on, we feel that they would like to put one or two more before the last day.
Bruges plays really well anyway
— Jar. On. (@Jar_On_) January 20, 2026
Nice try
Carlos Forbs tries a powerful shot at the edge of the area, but he puts it over the top. It was pretty.
Still nothing
Frankly, this second half is extremely calm. Nothing special to report. Bruges leads, controls and does not worry.
Shy recovery
As in the first act, the people of Bruges quietly dominate, but not much is happening so far.
How could Bruges become such a bland team? Whereas last year and even at the start of the season it was a really good team?#championsleague
— Fifou (@FifoutheFYG) January 20, 2026
It’s gone
The second half is underway!
End of the first act
Seriously, Club Brugge leads 0-2 at half-time and can clearly be satisfied with this result so far. See you in 15 minutes!
AND THE SECOND!
The meeting gets carried away and Bruges doubles the stakes! On a cross, Seys heads back to the small rectangle and Vanaken, with his shin, pushes the leather into the back of the goal. 0-2!
Which b.lluuyout!
Bruges finally opens the score! It’s Stankovic who plants the ball deep with a beautiful long shot after a clearance from the goalkeeper’s fist. This is the turning point in this match!
It’s calm
Bruges is in control, but they remain under the threat of a few skirmishes. From time to time we see the Kairat players inviting themselves into the Bruges 25 meters for a few minutes.
OH L’OCCASION !
Diakhon rushes down the left and sends a superb curling shot from distance, but the leather hits the post! What an opportunity!
Club Brugge is playing at the moment, important to know if they will play seriously or in flip-flops against us in a week #TeamOM
— Deemez13 (@glm_1329200) January 20, 2026
Bruges domination
Clearly, the Blauw & Zwart dominate Almaty, it’s no surprise. But they have not yet found the opening to take control so far, we feel that they have the weapons to make the difference regularly.
New breakthrough
Great Bruges offensive. Diakhon does the job on the left flank and Vermant takes over at the small rectangle, but the defense rushes at the ball and it fails for a corner.
Come on Bruges ! #FKACLU #COYB
— Soren (@TheSorenB) January 20, 2026
Bruges starts well
The Bruges had a good opportunity with a close shot, but the goalkeeper was well in place. They got off to a good start in this match.
Here we go!
Kick-off given in Kazakhstan: time for this duel between Kairat and Bruges!
We are approaching
The kick-off is looming. Bruges is ready to face this artificial turf from Astana.
Astana Arena. pic.twitter.com/G80bPpMplv
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) January 20, 2026
Important points
Bruges are aiming for victory and will need a 6/6 to hang on to the Barrages, who will then have to face Marseille to conclude their league phase. So we have to win tonight!
The Bruges eleven
No surprises to report in the Bruges eleven this week. Diakhon is a good starter, with a forward-looking team. Vanaken, Forbs, Vermant are all starters for example.
Presenting for the battle.
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) January 20, 2026
Hello everyone !
Hello everyone and welcome to this new live broadcast, this time with the duel between Bruges and Kairat, in Astana. Kick-off at 4:30 p.m., on RTL Club and RTL play!
The compositions
Kairat Almaty : Anarbekov, Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Luis Mata, Glazer, Kassabulat, Mrynskiy, Jorginho, Gromyko, Edmilson
Club Brugge : Jackers, Mechele, Ordonez, Sabbe, Seys, Vetlesen, Stankovic, Gorbs, Vanaken, Diakho, Vermant
The pre-match
“I want to get back on the path to victory as quickly as possible to show that we are not as bad as our latest results might suggest,” said Ivan Leko, the Bruges coach, on Monday at a press conference.
The duel will have a double importance for the people of Bruges who will have to win to still hope to appear among the first 24 clubs in the ranking, which would be synonymous with a play-off. The Blauw & Zwart had to manage several elements inherent to this long trip with a flight of more than 7 hours, the time difference but also the cold with a temperature of -17 degrees in Astana.
The Kazakh club, which is playing in the Champions League for the first time, is in 36th and last place with 1 point. The people of Bruges, 31st with 4 points, will have no room for error and this means that they will in principle need two more victories to have a chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
Bruges are without Christos Tzolis, their 23-year-old Greek international, injured during the 2-3 league defeat against La Louvière. Goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel will not make the trip to Astana, Simon Mignolet signs his return to the group. On the last day of the league phase, Club Brugge hosts Olympique Marseille at the Jan Breydel stadium on January 28 (9:00 p.m.).
