On Sunday afternoon, Club Brugge will play its 25th league match of the season. At the Jan Breydel Stadium, the Blues face Cercle Brugge away from home in the Bruges derby. You can read everything about the match in the Club Facts.
The match
Matchday 25 of the Jupiler Pro League brings us the 162nd edition of the Bruges derby in the Belgian top division. It’s a fixture with tradition: in the previous 80 away matches, Club recorded 44 wins, 18 draws, and 18 losses. The last away victory dates back to March 9, 2025 (1-3), the last draw to April 1, 2024 (1-1), and the most recent defeat to December 26, 2021 (2-0).
Club are unbeaten in the last four derbies as the away side (1W 3D). In the last 20 duels, the Blues have lost only once (11W 8D). However, Club have failed to keep a clean sheet in the last six away derbies against Cercle. The first duel in August ended 2-0 for Club, with goals from Hans Vanaken and Christos Tzolis. Last season, Club won 1-3 away thanks to goals from Vanaken and Ferran Jutglà (2x).
Club can secure its fifth win of 2026. With a victory, the Blues would also be mathematically certain of participating in the Champions’ Play-Offs, which would mark their 16th PO1 appearance. Christos Tzolis, with 10 assists, is still Club’s top provider and also the best in the Jupiler Pro League. Nicolò Tresoldi, Tzolis, and Romeo Vermant share the internal top-scorer ranking with seven goals.
The opponent
Cercle Brugge are playing their eighth consecutive season in the Jupiler Pro League since returning in 2018. Last season the side finished fourth and secured a European ticket.
Under coach Onur Cinel, Cercle are having a more difficult season. The green-and-black side is currently ranked 14th with 24 points. At home they have collected only 7 points and have won just once (4-1 against Westerlo). Since then, Cercle have gone ten straight home matches without a victory. In recent weeks, however, they seem in better form, with three wins in their last six games. Pieter Gerkens is top scorer with five goals, while Gary Magnée has five assists.
Cercle will be without Oumar Diakité, who is suspended after his red card against Charleroi.
Milestones
- Raphael Onyedika could play his 170th official match for Club.
- Nordin Jackers is awaiting his 50th match for the Blues.
- Hans Vanaken could play his 400th league match for Club.
- Joel Ordóñez could play his 70th JPL match.
- Nicolò Tresoldi could play his 25th league match for Club.
The Man in Black
Mr. Lothar D’Hondt has been appointed referee for the Bruges derby. He will be assisted by Mr. Romain Devillers and Mr. Nico Claes, with Mr. Massimiliano Ledda as fourth official. In Tubeke, Mr. Brent Staessens (VAR), Ms. Ella De Vries, and Mr. Carlos-Manuel Serra Guerreiro Alho will be on duty.
The 31-year-old from East Flanders will referee a Club match for the 32nd time. The previous 16 away matches under his supervision yielded 9 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses. Earlier this season he already officiated the home match against Cercle (2-0), the away match at KAA Gent (1-1), and the home matches against STVV (2-0) and Antwerp (0-1). It will be the second Bruges derby with him as a referee.