UEFA Conference League Matchday 3: LASK 0-0 Cercle Brugge

After a draw in the Bundesliga against TSV Hartberg on Saturday, Markus Schopp’s side had looked to secure a first victory in the Conference League after an opening day home draw against Djurgården and an away defeat against Olimpija Ljubljana. Cercle Brugge, former three-time Belgian champions, came into the match sitting 11th in the Belgian Pro League but on a three-game winning streak in league and cup, however came unstuck against future LASK opponents Vikingur Reykjavik on Matchday Two.

The Linzers began the contest on top with Filip Stojković seeing a double of early half-chances miss the target. However, it took until the quarter hour mark for LASK to conjure up a proper opportunity as Valon Berisha turned on a sixpence in the penalty area and blasted over the bar.

Shortly after, Sascha Horvath connected brilliantly with a Robert Žulj corner but saw his volley deflected away by Cercle Brugge goalkeeper Maxime Delanghe. In a game of few opportunities, the next chance came to the visitors with Thibo Somers rising highest from a corner and seeing his header well-saved by Jorg Siebenhandl.

The complexion of the game changed massively in first half injury time with Togolese striker Kevin Denkey seeing a second yellow card after impeding Hrvoje Smolčić in an aerial battle, giving LASK a one-man advantage for the rest of the game. This immediately put wind behind LASK’s sails as Žulj hit the inside of the woodwork and then saw his rebound miraculously cleared off the line - however, there was an offside in the build-up.

Schopp’s men began the second period well as George Bello notched the first attempt of the half, followed by a speculative blaze over the bar by Žulj. However, both sides struggled to break down the defence of the other in a second half stalemate. Cercle Brugge substitute Flávio Nazinho tested Siebenhandl from a dangerous free-kick position but the LASK keeper dealt with it well.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, LASK were in the ascendancy as substitutes Adil Taoui and Maxi Entrup combined well as the latter stole a march on the defender and shot a yard wide from an angle. Florian Flecker came even closer four minutes later with a lashed effort from the edge of the box producing a great save by Delanghe, and then Taoui’s curling effort just went wide of the far post followed immediately after.

LASK’s momentum continued as Cercle Brugge put the entire team behind the ball during the final echelons and, amongst this, Žulj found space for another effort to go frustratingly wide. Unfortunately, that was the final major action of the game as LASK had to settle for the goalless draw.

The line-ups

LASK: Siebenhandl; Bello, Ziereis, Smolčić (Talovierov 75’), Stojković (Flecker 75’); Jovičić (Taoui 61’), Bogarde; Žulj; Berisha, Ljubičić (Entrup 61’), Horvath
Subs: Jungwirth, Schillinger; Galvez, Haider, Midzic
Yellow card: Horvath 75’

Cercle Brugge: Delanghe, Utkus (Flávio Nazinho 45’), Ravych, Diakité; Magnée, Francis (De Wilde 67’), Van der Bruggen (Lietaert 90+3’), Efekele (Agyekum45’); Somers, Minda (Felipe Augusto 45’), Denkey
Subs: Langenbick, De Bel; Brunner, Olaigbe
Yellow cards: Denkey 29’, Delanghe 68’
Red card: Denkey 44’

By Simon Clark from The Other Bundesliga (@OtherBundesliga)