Pamplona (Thursday, August 24, 2023) – Club Atlético Osasuna fell 2-1 to Club Brugge in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night at El Sadar. The Belgian side got ahead in the 50th minute with a goal by forward Andreas Skov Olsen. Los rojillos fought back to tie the game, and forward Chimy Ávila tied it in the 78th; however, two minutes after the celebration, defender Maxim De Cuyper gave his team the lead.

Osasuna started the first half by creating havoc through flanks and keeping the opposition on their side of the field. Los rojillos had their first opportunity when Ávila fired a volley from outside the box, but the attempt went wide the left post. Before the end of the half, midfielder Rubén García became a threat for Club Brugge as he had three chances that barely missed the target. On his first try, García blasted a rocket from 25 yards out, but his shot missed the target. In the 35^th minute, he tried to chip the goalie, and four minutes later, he tried from inside the box, but his shot went to the right side of the post.

Osasuna sought to score quickly in the second half when García fired a shot that went over the crossbar. However, Skov Olsen got his team ahead only five minutes into the half. Los rojillos continued to press through the flanks, and Ávila rose above the defense to tie the game with a header. Two minutes later, De Cuyper scored the winning goal.

The Navarrese side will return on Sunday, August 27, when they visit Mestalla Stadium to face Valencia FC at 7:30 p.m. CET. The second leg of the playoff will take place next Thursday in Brugge at 8:30 p.m. CET.

Box Score:
Osasuna 1 – 2 Club Brugge

Goals:
CLU: Andreas Skov Olsen (2) 50’
OSA: Chimy Ávila (1) 78’
CLU: Maxim De Cuyper (1) 80'

Discipline:
OSA: Johan Mojica (Yellow Card) 29’
OSA: David García (Yellow Card) 37’
CLU: Tajon Buchanan (Yellow Card) 45+4’
CLU: Raphael Mechele (Yellow Card) 51’
CLU: Thiago (Yellow Card) 52’
CLU: Andreas Skov Olsen (Yellow Card) 68’
CLU: Simon Mignolet (Yellow Card) 88’

Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; David García (C), Lucas Torró (Pablo Ibáñez, m. 83), Jon Moncayola, Chimy Ávila, Aimar Oroz (Jose Arnaiz, m. 66), Rubén García (Ante Budimir, m. 66), Rubén Peña (Jesús Areso, m. 83), Moi Gómez (Kike Barja, m. 88), Johan Mojica, Alejandro Catena

Subs not used: Sergio Herrera; Nacho Vidal, Juan Cruz, Unai García, Raúl García, Jorge Herrando, Iker Muñoz

Club Brugge K.V.: Simon Mignolet; Andreas Skov Olsen (Antonio Nusa, m.75), Hugo Vetlesen (Denis Odoi, m.88), Raphael Oneyedika, Tajon Buchanan (Kyriani Sabbe, m.75), Hans Vanaken (C), Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Jorne Spileers, Philip Zinckernagel (Michael Skóraś, m. 88), Thiago (Deryck Boyata, m.75)

Subs not used: Nordin Jackers; Joel Ordonez, Victor Barberá, Roman Yaremchuk

Stats Summary:
OSA/CLU
Shots: 9/3
Shots on Goal: 4/2
Corners: 4/1
Fouls: 10/12
Offsides: 2/2
Possession: 48%/52%

Referee: Benoît Millot (FRA)
Assistant Referees: Hicham Zakrani (FRA) & Julien Aube (FRA)
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat (FRA)
VAR: Pierre Gaillouste (FRA)
Asst. VAR: Maika Vanderstichel (FRA)