Three weeks after the emphatic qualification for the Champions League, Club Brugge will be opening its League Phase at home against AS Monaco, game to be kicked off on Thursday at 18h45. In the first of four campaign home games, Club could add a fifthe consecutive win to its European run so far.
THE FIXTURE
For the 75th time Club Brugge will be starting a group game in the UEFA Champions League. The game is Club's 109th in the Champions League, including preliminaries, and its 378th game on any European stage. For AS Monaco this will be the 226th time in Europe. Looking at it with a helicopter view, it is the 97th time a Belgian team meets with French opposition, and Club's 26th time facing a French opponent. This campaign will be Club's 12th in the Champions League, while Monaco featured in 10 editions. The two teams will be meeting for the fifth time. Four earlier fixtures ended in two wins for Club: a memorable win in Monaco (0-4) and a win at home (1-0). Other results included a 1-1 draw at Jan Breydel and a sturdy 6-1 defeat in Monaco. In the most recent past, Club claimed that 0-4 win in November 2018 as Vanaken (2), Wesley and Vormer made it 0-4 on the night in a win that would earn Club a spot in the Europa League Knock-out phase.
A win for Club means it wins for the fifth time running this season. Last season's home CL campaign ended in two home wins, one draw, and one defeat. Club totalled 12 Champions League games (5W, 2D, 5L). The Play-offs saw Club cross swords with Italian giants Atalanta Bergamo. Club came out on top a home (2-1), and followed up with an excellent 1-3 at Bergamo. In the Round of 16, Aston Villa proved too high a hurdle (1-3 at home and 3-0 in Birmingham). Club managed to score in four of its last five Champions League games, and also four in their last five home games. Top scorers this still fresh season are Seys (3), Vanaken (2) and Vermant (2). Mignolet, Vanaken, Mechele and Spileers all played the full 360 minutes.
A number of legendary names have featured at both teams at some point in their career. Krépin Diatta made the move from Club to Monaco, just like Nabil Dirar and Robert Špehar.
THE OPPONENT
AS Monaco did not need preliminaries to make it to the League Phase. In ten games last season, the team reaped 4 wins, two draws and 4 defeats. Away from home, the team earned one win, two draws and two defeats, scoring six, but also conceding 11. The CL campaign ended after Benfica ousted them in the play-off games (0-1 and 3-3). With three wins and one defeat, AS Monaco started out in high spirits in the Ligue 1. At home it beat Strasbourg (3-2) and Le Havre (3-1), and also claimed a win at Auxerre (1-2), but narrowly lost to Lille (1-0). Maghnes Akliouche is the team's top scorer with two goals so far, followed by Balogun, Dier and Minamino. Camara tops the assist table with two goals offered.
MILESTONES
Some personal records in full view:
- Hans Vanaken is up for a 65th appearance in the Champions League (including prelims).
- Joaquin Seys could be playing his 15th game.
- Kyriani Sabbe will be putting on the Club jersey for the 10th time in Europe.
THE MAN IN BLACK
Leading this all-important CL game will be Mr. Simone Sozza (ITA), backed by his linesmen Mr. Alessio Berti and Mr. Davide Imperiale. Mr. Davide Massa (ITA) will be fourth official. Manning VAR will be Mr. Aleandro Di Paolo (ITA) as Video Assistant Referee and the experienced Spaniard Carlos del Cerro Grande as his assistant.