For the first day of the group stages of the Champions League, FC Brugge won at home against Bayer Leverkusen (1-0). A victory that bears the mark of Abakar Sylla who made a successful debut in C1.
Abakar Sylla played a very solid game against Bayer Leverkusen and was named man of the match for his very first appearance in the Champions League. Arrived from the Ivorian club SO Armée to join the academy of Club Brugge last year, the U20 international is becoming more and more established this season in the league. For his debut, the 19 year old Ivorian had a big client in Patrik Schick, one of the best European strikers last season.
It was an even more memorable night for Sylla, who scored the only goal of the game with a header to give his team their first points of the group.
"It's a great emotion. First game in the Champions League and man of the match, it's really huge", said the young left-handed central defender.
"A great career awaits him"
Very clean in his interventions, the nugget of FC Brugge was imperial in the duels. Strong, clean and serene. A performance that did not fail to seduce his team.
🇨🇮 Abakar Sylla (19) v. Bayer Leverkusen:
☑️ 90 minutes
🚫 Clean sheet
⚽️ 1 goal
🔀 2/3 dribbles won
🚀 4 clearances
🧱 2 blocked shots
⚔️ 5 duels won
💪 11 ball recoveries
🤩 1-0 winDid it ALL for @ClubBrugge!
His best match yet. Unbeaten with him in the XI. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1O4YxXXP2T
— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) September 7, 2022
"He shows his qualities. He is a good guy. He's learning very quickly. If he can continue to play the way he did today, he has a great career ahead of him," reacted Simon Mignolet on the one who allowed him to keep his cage inviolate last night.
For the coach of the Bruges club Carl Hoefkens, "Sylla is a natural leader". The defender does not hesitate to take initiatives on the ball and to make the first restarts of his team.
Next week, Abakar Sylla will have to maintain the same level of play in the Champions League to allow FC Zurich to compete for the first place in group B with Atletico Madrid, winner of FC Porto.
