In Wednesday’s fixture at the Jan Breydel Stadium, Gala named a line-up with no Turkish player for the first time in their history.
Thirteen out of the Yellow-Reds’ first-team players are Turks, and customarily, at least one player from Turkey makes the team’s starting XI.
Against Club Brugge, however, the 22-time Super Lig winners deviated from their norm to field a team made up of only foreign professionals with four African nations in the mix.
The game ended 0-0 as both outfits are expected to battle for a Europa League place owing to Real Madrid and PSG’s presence in Group A.
Nigeria’s Emmanuel Dennis was among Club Brugge’s players for the encounter plagued by missed opportunities. He fluffed a chance in the eighth minute after heading a cross from Ruud Vormer waywardly.
His compatriot Dennis Okereke was handed a starting role by coach Philippe Clement but he was replaced by Lois Openda on the hour mark.
Angola’s Clinton Mata, Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Deli and Senegal’s Krepin Diatta saw every minute of action with the Belgians but same cannot be said of South Africa’s Percy Tau, who was an unused substitute.
Brugge’s next Champions League assignment is at the Santiago Bernabeu against Madrid, while Gala welcome PSG to Istanbul on October 1.
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