Mechele played through the remaining minutes of the match with cotton balls stuffed in both nostrils after absorbing an elbow to the face in the 51st minute, T-Online reported. The 33-year-old Belgian defender returned to the pitch following a brief treatment pause and finished the fixture despite his nose appearing visibly crooked and bleeding heavily.
Club Brügge Secures Seven-Goal Thriller Against Inter Milan
The dramatic encounter ended with a 4-3 victory for Club Brügge, fueled by a hat-trick from U21 international Nicolò Tresoldi. While Tresoldi’s three goals anchored the offensive output, Mechele’s physical endurance drew immediate attention as the Belgian side secured the high-scoring win.
Medical staff treated Mechele on the pitch immediately after the 51st-minute collision. Reentering the game with makeshift nasal packing, the veteran center-back anchored the defensive line through the final whistle.
Familiar Territory for the Belgian Defender
Mechele is no stranger to facial fractures on the European stage. Two years prior, he sustained a broken nose during a Champions League fixture against Sporting Lisbon, refusing to leave the pitch on that occasion either.
🇧🇪🤕 | Victime d’un coup de coude fortuit au visage hier face à l’Inter Milan, Brandon Mechele a tenu à terminer le match malgré son nez cassé 💪 Quel soldat, nous lui souhaitons un bon rétablissement ❤️🩹 (@ClubBrugge) pic.twitter.com/MLJEVF4pmZ
Following that previous injury, Mechele wore a protective mask for several months. He faced similar circumstances earlier in his career due to a broken jaw, which also required facial protection. “I have gotten used to such a mask in the meantime,” Mechele said after his first nasal fracture, noting that his visibility remained clear and the ventilation holes in the equipment were sufficiently large. He is now expected to retrieve the protective gear for a third time.
What Comes Next for Brandon Mechele
Club Brügge prepares for its next fixture while medical staff evaluate Mechele’s recovery timeline.
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