Cercle Brugge pulled off a significant 1-0 away victory against KAA Gent in the Belgian Pro League on February 21, 2026. A solitary goal in the second half was enough for the visitors to claim a precious three points at the Ghelamco Arena. In a tightly contested match with few clear chances, the deadlock was broken in the 65th minute when a Cercle Brugge forward latched onto a through ball and finished coolly past the Gent goalkeeper. The home team pushed for an equalizer and had a strong penalty appeal waved away by the referee, a decision that sparked controversy among the home fans. Gent's best chance came in the final minutes, but a header went narrowly wide. The match result was a blow to Gent's aspirations for a top-four finish, while it provided a massive boost to Cercle Brugge's campaign, moving them further away from the relegation zone. The Cercle manager hailed a perfect away performance, and the Gent coach criticized his team's lack of creativity in the final third. The starting lineups featured both teams in their typical formations, with Cercle's disciplined shape proving decisive.