Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika emerged as the breakout star in Club Brugge’s dominant 4-1 victory over AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League league phase opener, scoring a crucial goal and anchoring the midfield with poise at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
The 23-year-old’s clinical finish in the 39th minute doubled the hosts’ lead, setting the tone for a clinical first-half demolition that propelled Brugge to a convincing start in Europe’s premier club competition.
The match, pitting two qualifiers against each other in a battle of underdogs, quickly turned into a showcase for Brugge’s attacking prowess.
Onyedika, starting in central midfield alongside Aleksandar Stankovic, was instrumental in breaking up Monaco’s play and transitioning swiftly to offense.
His goal came from a well-worked corner routine, where he latched onto a Carlos Forbs square pass to poke home from close range with a composed left-footed effort, leaving Monaco’s goalkeeper Philipp Köhn helpless.
This strike not only highlighted Onyedika’s finishing ability but also his growing influence since joining Brugge from Danish side Midtjylland in 2023, where he has become a key fixture in their push for domestic and European success.
Club Brugge, under coach Nicky Hayen, made four changes from their recent 1-0 domestic league loss to La Louvière, bringing in Onyedika, Simon Mignolet, Joel Ordóñez, and Christos Tzolis to bolster the lineup.
The adjustments paid immediate dividends. In the 32nd minute, Nicolo Tresoldi opened the scoring with a slotted finish after a clever pass from captain Hans Vanaken, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Monaco’s backline.
Onyedika’s response just seven minutes later extended the lead, and Vanaken himself added a third in the 42nd minute with a stunning volley from another set-piece, rifling the ball into the top-right corner.
Monaco, who had entered the fixture as slight favourites due to their strong Ligue 1 form and recent European experience, struggled to cope with Brugge’s intensity.
Despite some early resistance, including Köhn’s impressive saves to deny Tresoldi in a one-on-one and other threats, the visitors conceded three goals in a frantic 10-minute spell before halftime.
Monaco’s woes deepened when they were awarded a penalty in the second half, but Brugge’s veteran goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, a former Liverpool stalwart, produced a vital save to deny Maghnes Akliouche, preserving the clean sheet until late.
The French side managed a consolation goal in the 75th minute through Ansu Fati, the on-loan Barcelona forward who curled a fine effort past Mignolet to spark brief hopes of a comeback.
However, Brugge sealed the points in style with a fourth goal in the 81st minute, as 19-year-old substitute Mamadou Diakhon marked his Champions League debut with a composed finish, rounding off a performance that underlined the Belgian champions’ credentials as potential dark horses in the tournament.
Onyedika, who was substituted late in the game for L. Audoor, received widespread praise post-match for his all-around display, earning high ratings for his defensive solidity and opportunistic scoring.
