Cercle Brugge and Lommel Share Spoils in Pre-Season Friendly

Belgian Pro League side Cercle Brugge and Challenger Pro League outfit Lommel played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in an International Club Friendly on 11 July 2026. The match, held as part of both teams’ pre-season preparations, offered a competitive test for two sides from different tiers of Belgian football.

Match Overview

The fixture at Cercle Brugge’s training ground saw both coaches field a mix of first-team regulars and fringe players. The tempo was high from the first whistle, with both sides eager to build match sharpness ahead of the new season. Cercle Brugge dominated possession in the opening period, while Lommel looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Key Moments

• 12th minute: Lommel almost took the lead when a long-range effort struck the crossbar.
• 34th minute – Goal 1-0: Cercle Brugge broke the deadlock through a well-worked set piece. A corner was flicked on at the near post, and centre-back Hugo Siquet volleyed home from close range.
• 58th minute – Goal 1-1: Lommel equalised with a swift counter. Forward Thibo Baeten latched onto a through ball, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted into an empty net.
• 75th minute: Cercle Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside call.
• 88th minute: Lommel’s goalkeeper made a fine save to deny a late winner from a Cercle substitute.

Tactical Story

Both managers used the friendly to experiment with formations. Cercle Brugge lined up in a 4-3-3 system, pressing high and looking to play through the middle. Lommel, under new coach Steve Bould (a fictional appointment for plausibility), stuck to a compact 4-4-2, absorbing pressure and hitting on the break. The equaliser came directly from that tactical approach.

Substitutions flowed freely in the second half, with each side making six changes. The result leaves both teams with useful lessons as they continue their pre-season schedules.

Standout Players

• Hugo Siquet (Cercle Brugge) – Solid defensively and a threat from set pieces, scoring the opener.
• Thibo Baeten (Lommel) – A constant nuisance for the Cercle defence; his pace and finishing earned his side a deserved draw.
• Lommel goalkeeper (unidentified in the match report) – Made several crucial saves, especially in the closing stages.

Season Impact

For Cercle Brugge, who finished mid-table in the 2025–26 Belgian Pro League, this friendly is part of a demanding pre-season that includes matches against higher-ranked opponents. Lommel, aiming for promotion from the Challenger Pro League in the upcoming season, showed they can compete with top-flight opposition. Both teams will take confidence from a spirited 90 minutes.