AA Gent extended their flawless start to the season with a commanding 3-0 away victory over Cercle Brugge, maintaining their spot at the top of the Jupiler Pro League. The Buffalo's secured the three points at the Jan Breydel Stadium with goals from Emmanuel Kakou, Tibe De Vlieger and El Hadji Seck.
This win marks fifteen consecutive victories in all competitions for the club from Ghent. Under coach Rik De Mil, the team currently sits fourth in the table with twelve points from four games, just one point behind leaders Union Saint-Gilloise. They have scored seven goals and conceded two, giving them a goal difference of plus five. The full league table is available on our standings page.
How did the match against Cercle Brugge unfold?
AA Gent started strongly on the road. Emmanuel Kakou opened the scoring. The 1-0 lead was protected until the final stages, partly thanks to a important save from goalkeeper Roef who tipped a shot over the bar. Gent killed the game late on. Tibe De Vlieger converted a penalty and El Hadji Seck made it 0-3 in second-half stoppage time.
Coach Rik De Mil reacted pragmatically to the scoreline. "Deze nul-drie is misschien wat overdreven," he admitted in a report by HLN Voetbal. "Maar toch doet dat resultaat ook ongelooflijk deugd." He specifically praised his team's improved defensive stability compared to the previous campaign.
What does this winning run mean for AA Gent?
The streak of fifteen wins is an impressive feat that started under three different coaches. Predecessors Vrancken, Milicevic and Leko laid the foundation, and De Mil has successfully continued the momentum. The run includes five league wins and three successful European qualification matches against Cherkasy, Göteborg and Hibernian.
Defender Christian Burgess is highlighted as a key figure in this strong period. The coming weeks will be important to gauge the team's true potential. De Mil already identified the upcoming fixtures against Genk and Standard Liege as key tests. The next challenge is an away match against Genk. The full schedule can be checked on our fixtures page.
What is the situation for opponents Cercle Brugge?
For Cercle Brugge, who are fighting against relegation for a third consecutive season, the defeat was another setback. The club is, however, doing excellent financial business. They let Ibrahim Diaby leave on a free transfer a year ago. That player is now making a multi-million euro move to Saudi Arabia, from which Cercle could earn up to 13.5 million euros including bonuses.
Also, the club also benefits from sell-on clauses from the transfers of former players like Ayase Ueda and Yann Gboho. It shows Cercle's reputation as a developer of young talent.
Who else was notable in this match?
The match was officiated by Japanese referee Yusuke Araki, who previously served as a fourth official during a World Cup match between Belgium and Iran. His appointment was notable, especially as referee chief Nathan Verboomen had previously sent officials to Japan for assignments.
For AA Gent, focus now shifts entirely to maintaining form. The team will have to face Genk without the injured Hyllarion Goore, whose status can be monitored on the injuries page. The away fixture against the eighth-placed side is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026.
