Tresoldi's hat-trick came with fewer shots than Brugge usually take

Nicolò Tresoldi scored a hat-trick as Club Brugge KV beat St. Truiden 3-2 at the Jan Breydel Stadion, despite a penalty and a late goal from the visitors.

Nicolò Tresoldi scored all three of Club Brugge KV's goals, and he did it on a night when his side had less of the ball and fewer shots than they usually manage. Club Brugge KV had 52% of the possession, which is the share of time a team spends in control of the ball. At home this season they average 64.6%, so this was well below their normal level.

The shooting numbers tell the same story. Club Brugge KV took 11 shots, against an average of 16.4 in their home games this season, and the league average for a team is 12.9. Nine of those shots came from inside the penalty box, though, and the expected goals figure, which judges each chance by how often chances like it turn into goals, was 2.49. Their usual figure at home is 2.39, so the chances they created were about as good as ever, even if there were fewer of them.

The first half belonged to Tresoldi. He scored in the 41st and 43rd minutes, with Kyriani Sabbe and Carlos Forbs providing the assists, and Club Brugge KV led 2-0 at the break. Forbs also assisted Tresoldi's third goal in the 75th minute, and Forbs finished with two assists in total. Tresoldi's effort was the difference between a comfortable afternoon and a tighter one, and he was rated 9 for his work.

St. Truiden were not without their moments. I. Sebaoui converted a penalty in the 55th minute to make it 2-1, and Club Brugge KV's lead was 3-1 by the 75th minute. S. Taniguchi scored in the 90th minute, assisted by F. Soelle, to bring the visitors within a goal. Club Brugge KV conceded twice in a game where they usually give up 0.6 goals at home, so the late goal was the first sign of trouble for a side that had looked in control.

For St. Truiden, the numbers were quieter. They had 48% of the ball, against an average of 56% in their away games, and they managed six shots, well below their away average of 15.6. Only two of those were on target, and their expected goals figure of 1.16 sat below their usual 1.58. They conceded three goals, a little above their away average of two, but they also scored two, which is close to their usual 1.9.

Club Brugge KV finished the night second in the table with 21 points, and they have won seven of their eight matches. St. Truiden stay 13th, with eight points from the same number of games, and their away form has been the weak point for much of the season.

Player of the matchNicolò Tresoldi3 goals9.0

Carlos Forbs2 assists8.9

Kyriani Sabbe1 assist7.9

Freddie Potts9 duels won7.6