Club Brugge Dominates Monaco in Champions League Opener
Club Brugge kicked off their 2025-26 Champions League campaign with a resounding 4-1 victory over Monaco.
The Belgian team established a commanding lead with three goals in just 10 minutes, effectively sealing the game by half-time at Jan Breydelstadion.
Nicolo Tresoldi, Raphael Onyedika, and Hans Vanaken all found the net during a frenetic first half.
French teenager Mamadou Diakhon added a fourth goal with a powerful strike, while Ansu Fati, making his debut for Monaco, scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.
It was a tumultuous opening 17 minutes for former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who both conceded and saved a penalty, received a yellow card for dissent towards the referee, and was ultimately substituted due to a groin injury.
At the opposite end, goalkeeper Philipp Kohn was kept on his toes as Club Brugge unleashed 17 shots on goal. Despite making several impressive saves, he was unable to stop Tresoldi's well-placed finish, and Onyedika capitalized on being unmarked to score the second goal. Kohn was left helpless as Vanaken's spectacular volley soared into the top right corner just before the interval.
Monaco, captained by former Tottenham defender Eric Dier, showed some improvement after half-time, but rarely posed a threat to Mignolet's replacement, Nordin Jackers. Their defense was easily breached as Diakhon netted Club Brugge's fourth goal.
Nicky Hayen's side, who reached the last 16 in last season's Champions League, will next face Atalanta on September 30, while Monaco prepares to host Manchester City.