Club Brugge: Marseille’s Late Heartbreak & Qualification

Painful miss: Club Brugge congratulates Marseille on qualification, but the French die due to a late goal

wo January 28, 2026 23:39

1 min

A well-intentioned gesture has suddenly become embarrassing. For a long time it looked like Club opponent Marseille would also finish in the top 24. Blauw-zwart therefore congratulated its opponent with a message on the scoreboards in the stadium. Only: the French still lost due to Benfica’s goal in the 98th minute. Painful.

You couldn’t blame Club Brugge for not being prepared.

After the final whistle in Jan Breydel, blue and black celebrated not only their own qualification, but also that of opponent Marseille. At that time, the French were effectively in the top 24.

But due to a miraculous denouement in Lisbon – with a goal from goalkeeper Troebin – Marseille still fell.

Painful moment.

Perhaps they remembered what Manchester City had done exactly a year ago. Then the scoreboards at Etihad Stadium boasted: “Congratulations on your qualification”.

Fortunately, that was correct at the time.

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Marcus Cole

Marcus Cole is a senior football analyst at Archysport with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, college football, and international football leagues. A former NCAA Division I player turned journalist, Marcus brings an insider's understanding of the game to every breakdown. His work focuses on tactical analysis, draft evaluations, and in-depth game previews. When he's not breaking down film, Marcus covers the intersection of football culture and the communities it shapes across America.

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