AaB 1-3 Club Brugge

Club Brugge put themselves in a commanding position in the Europa League round of 32 as they won 3-1 in their first leg at AaB.

The Belgian side were rarely troubled in Denmark and goals from Mamadou Oulare and Lior Rafaelov and a Kenneth Emil Petersen own goal gave them the most comfortable of cushions ahead of the return fixture.

Nicklas Helenius scored a penalty to at least keep AaB interested but it will require a stunning turnaround for them to go through.

Club Brugge flew out of the traps and had two fine chances inside the space of 20 seconds, with Felipe Gedoz seeing both of them.

His first effort, from the edge of the box, was saved by Nicolai Larsen and then he slammed the rebound, from closer range, against the post.

Andreas Bruhn had a header at the other end well blocked and then Anders K Jacobsen had a shot well saved by Matthew Ryan as the play went from end to end.

The game really exploded after that, though, as Brugge rattled in two quickfire goals.

Twenty-five minutes in Boli Bolingoli whipped in a cross that Oulare got above Larsen to nod in, and five minutes later the scorer turned provider as his cross was cracked in by Rafaelov, who took aim from just outside the box.

Gedoz took aim in pursuit of a third but was denied, while Oscar Duarte also went close before the half-time break.

The flow of play continued towards AaB's goal after the break as Oulare was stopped by Larsen, but the keeper was helpless on the hour as Petersen sliced a Thomas Meunier cross into his own goal.

AaB were given slight hope when they were awarded a 72nd-minute penalty, with Helenius putting it away after Meunier had brought down Jacob Blabjerg. They could not mount more of a fightback, though, and Brugge maintained a healthy cushion.