Club Brugge thrash AA Gent 5-0 as Tresoldi nets hat-trick

Club Brugge secured their second successive title with a commanding 5-0 win over AA Gent on Sunday. Nicolo Tresoldi scored a first-half hat-trick to seal the victory at Jan Breydel Stadium. Club Brugge’s title celebrations included a pre-match tribute to retiring goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Mignolet, a former Belgium international, ended his 20-year career with an emotional farewell. The tribute featured a guard of honour from both teams and a standing ovation from the home crowd. Club Brugge’s players wore black armbands in his honour.

Tresoldi’s three goals came within a 15-minute span in the first half. His first was a low drive past AA Gent goalkeeper Jean Butez in the 12th minute. The second followed from close range after a defensive error in the 23rd minute. His third was a header from an Andreas Skov Olsen cross in the 27th minute.

AA Gent struggled to contain Club Brugge’s attacking pressure throughout. Their only shot on target came in the 34th minute, saved by Club Brugge goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. Club Brugge dominated possession with 62% and created 18 shots, nine of which were on target.

Club Brugge manager Ronny Deila praised Tresoldi’s performance after the match. Deila said: “Nicolo was clinical today and his movement was excellent.”

Club Brugge’s next match is a Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb on May 28.