Club Brugge overwhelmed a woeful Eupen side for an easy 5:2 home win on Sunday as they got their title defence off to a flyer. Wesley Moraes scored the opener very early on while Jelle Vossen added a second from the spot. Wesley scored soon after another goal before Vossen followed up with his second of the day soon after the break. Eupen had some chances and goals by Eric Ocansey and Luis Garcia, who converted a penalty, made the scoreline more respectable. Vossen scored another goal from a penalty right at the end as Remi Mulumba was sent off.

Brugge looked impressive dangerous right from the word go and did not need much time to get the opener. A cross from the right was reached Vossen and after he was denied by the keeper, Wesley fired a low strike past the goalie from the rebound.

Eupen struggled to contain the pace and urgency of the home attacks as Hans Vanaken had a header saved from close range and then Rudd Vormer guided an effort narrowly wide. Garcia was also close to scoring an own goal as the onslaught continued. Eupen occasionally looked to threaten and David Pollet guided a shot wide when he could have done better inside the box.

But the Black and Blue moved in complete control midway through the half as Siebe Blondelle was adjudged to have grabbed an opposing player inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Vossen made no mistake to make it 2:0. Soon after that the hosts made it three goals to the good as Wesley was superbly teed up by a flicked Hans Vanaken pass and guided a finish past the keeper. Brugge remained in full control but did not really too many chances for the remainder of the first half.

Eupen came out in the second half with determination and ambition to get on the scoresheet and a decent shot by Jean-Thierry Lazare was rather fumbled by goalie Karlo Letica. But Brugge were soon back and pushing for further goals as Vossen was picked up inside the box and drilled a finish past the keeper.

The striker could well have scored again in the next attack but mis-kicked from close range. Wesley had a chance to score another goal but sent wide when played down the right. The Black and Blue very much took their foot off the gas after that and the Pandas were given some decent opportunities when they went forward.

A good strike from distance by Xavi Molina was well saved by the keeper. Ocansey made it 4:1 20 minutes before the end as he surged down the right and fired a finish past the keeper. And soon after that the visiting side were handed the chance to score another goal as Mataj Mitrovic tripped Ocansey inside the box.

Garcia guided the ball in and suddenly the visitors were only two goals down. Brugge still had the chance to score the final goal of the game as some shirt-grabbing inside the box saw Mulumba given his second yellow card and Vossen struck from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick.

Brugge were barely extended on the day as their attacking prowess was too much for a limited opponent to handle. It is an excellent start for the champions and Ivan Leko will be looking for more of the same. Claude Makelele cannot be happy with some of the defending his side displayed in what was a challenging game. The Pandas were always likely to be on the losing side but a beating of that manner will definitely impact morale.