Club Brugge condemn Monaco to their heaviest CL defeat as Henry continues search for first win
Monaco are facing an early exit from the Champions League after their dismal season hit a new low with a humiliating 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Club Brugge.
Hans Vanaken’s brace and a fine goal from Wesley sensationally put Brugge – without a victory in their previous 11 matches in this competition – three up inside 24 minutes at Stade Louis II.
There was little in the way of a response from the hosts and Brugge even added a fourth with five minutes remaining, skipper Ruud Vormer taking advantage of more woeful defending.
As a result, Thierry Henry is still searching for his first victory since succeeding Leonardo Jardim as head coach last month, with Monaco’s winless streak now standing at a remarkable 15 matches dating back to their opening game of the season in Ligue 1.
Monaco’s hopes of progressing from Group A will be extinguished on Tuesday if Atletico Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund, while Brugge now have renewed hope of achieving at least a third-placed finish.
The hosts had a great chance to move ahead early on, but Ethan Horvath pulled off a fine save low to his left to deny Sofiane Diop.
Brugge then moved in front after 12 minutes when Mats Rits’ low cross from the right somehow found its way through to an unmarked Vanaken, who tucked away the easiest of finishes at the far post.
Vanaken calmly converted a penalty five minutes later after Antonio Barreca was adjudged to have handled a goalbound shot and Monaco were soon punished for more abysmal defending, a clinical Brugge counter-attack ending with Wesley cutting in from the left and firing a superb finish into the bottom-right corner.
Despite dominating possession, Henry’s men looked bereft of confidence as they sought a reply and a shocking defensive mix-up allowed Vormer to rub salt in Monaco’s wounds late on.
0-4 – Against Club Brugge (0-4), Monaco have registered their heaviest defeat at home in the Champions League/European Cup. Disaster. pic.twitter.com/vOkAwkp7Op
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 6, 2018
What does it mean? Monaco facing mammoth rebuild
Just 18 months on from reaching the Champions League semi-finals, Monaco are in disarray. Second-bottom of Ligue 1, they have yet to demonstrate any significant improvement following the high-profile appointment of Henry and must wonder where their next win is coming from.
Wesley makes his mark again
A scorer in the reverse fixture two weeks ago, Wesley produced the standout moment of Tuesday’s tie with his wonderful individual goal. Having been granted space by an inexplicably high Monaco defensive line, the forward produced an emphatic finish to put Brugge in total command.
24′ GOAAAAAL! Wesley met de prachtige uithaal in de verste hoek! 0-3 voor Club! #UCL #ASMCLU pic.twitter.com/2FetLAeawW
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) November 6, 2018
Injury added to insult for Glik
Kamil Glik endured a night to forget amid Monaco’s defensive misery. The experienced Poland international was left on his backside as a seemingly innocuous cross from Rits led to Brugge’s opener and was beaten far too easily by Wesley for the visitors’ third goal. Glik then picked up an injury in the second half and was unable to finish the contest.
Key Opta Facts
– In what was their first home game in the competition under Thierry Henry, Monaco suffered their heaviest defeat in Champions League history (0-4).
– Club Brugge registered their largest margin of victory in the European Cup/Champions League since September 1977, when they won 4-0 against Kuopion Palloseura.
– Hans Vanaken became the first player to score a brace for Club Brugge in Champions League history.
What’s next?
To make matters worse for Monaco, their next game sees them face a Paris Saint-Germain side that has won 12 Ligue 1 matches out of 12 and scored 41 goals in the process. Goodness only knows what the score will be in that match if Henry’s side defend this poorly again. Monaco and Brugge visit Atletico and Dortmund respectively in matchday five of the Champions League.
