Club Brugge recovered from an early setback to beat Sporting CP 2-1 and deal their opponents another blow in their post-Ruben Amorim era. (More Football News)
Sporting were flying in the Champions League until Amorim left to take the Manchester United job, subsequently losing 5-1 at home t꧃o Arsenal. They have also been beaten in their past two league matches.
A fourth straight defeat in all competitions looked unlikely when Geny Catamo pounced on a rebound to give Sporting the lead in the third minute, bu𒐪t more pain was to come.
Brugge levelled when Eduardo Quaresma diverted Christos Tzolis' effort into his own net, before a VAR review led to a penalty award in Sporting's favour being💯 reduced to a free-kick.
The game remained in the balance until the 84th minute, but substitute Casper Nielsen blasted Brugge to victory following ca♏ptain Hans Vanaken's pass.
Three poin🌳ts took Brugge level on points with Sporting, who are still well placed for a play-off berth but have slipped behind the top eight.
Data debrief: A long-awaited comeback
Sporting had not lost consecutive Euro🃏pean matches since the 2022-23 Champions League group stage, but Brugge seiz𒈔ed on their new-found fragility on Tuesday.
The Belgian side had to show spirit, too, though. They had lost the previous nine C🌊hampions League matches in which they conceded the opening goal, ✅ending that sequence with not just a draw but a precious victory.
Indeed, as Sporting falter, there are signs Brugge have found the🌳ir place in the Champions League. They have won three of their past five games, as many as in their p💦revious 13.
