There are two arenas in which professional sports teams succeed: on the field and on social media. As Southampton showed earlier this season, it's possible to win online even after losing on the pitch. A master class Club Brugge tweet at Manchester United ahead of the two sides’ Europa League Round of 32 first leg bout once again showed the power of Twitter.
The Red Devils social team simply wanted to remind its followers and Brugge about the last time United traveled to Belgium and dominated.
#ThrowbackThursday to a @WayneRooney hat-trick last time out in Bruges #MUFC #UEL pic.twitter.com/ZnLUNvPi7r
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 20, 2020
The Belgian side was quick to clap back with a fiery rhetorical question about United's failure to qualify for the Champions League.
What a Champions League night that was! Our last one was in december. Yours? https://t.co/TNCxK22kur
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) February 20, 2020
The replies speak for themselves.
— FC Bruges Army (@Fc_Bruges_Army) February 20, 2020
For those curious, the last time Manchester United participated in the Champions League was Apr. 16, 2019, when Barcelona thrashed the Red Devils 3-0. As for Club Brugge, its last Champions League match was two months ago during a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
The night only got better for Brugge. In the 15th minute, former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet provided the assist for Emmanuel Bonaventure to put the Belgian club in front.
The chip from WAY out puts Club Brugge ahead of Manchester United pic.twitter.com/1m5dNuPY9f
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) February 20, 2020
Club Brugge might have come away with victories off and on the pitch, but a mistake late in the first half gifted Anthony Martial an away goal.
Anthony Martial takes advantage of the Club Brugge error pic.twitter.com/nrGnAjkgmQ
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) February 20, 2020
The second leg at Old Trafford will be played on Thursday, Feb. 27. We'll have to wait and see if Club Brugge can conjure up another insult to throw over Twitter at the Red Devils.
