Blauw-Zwart welcome league leaders KRC Genk on matchday 3 of the Champions' Play-Offs. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this encounter.
THE FIXTURE
Club Brugge entertain Genk this weekend, with both sides having won their opening two fixtures in the Play-Offs. As a result, the gap between the two remains at four points heading into this round.
This will be the 89th top-flight meeting between the two sides. Of the previous 44 encounters in Bruges, Club have recorded 27 wins and 8 draws, while suffering 9 defeats. Remarkably, this will be the fifth time the two teams face each other this season - the first time they’ve ever met so frequently in one season.
Both sides have enjoyed success on home soil in previous meetings: Genk edged a 3-2 thriller in August, while Club responded with a 2-0 win in December. In the semi-finals of the Croky Cup, Club took the advantage with a 2-1 home win in the first leg, before grinding out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the return leg at the Cegeka Arena to secure their place in the final.
It’s been 37 years since Club first faced the newly formed Genk following their merger.
The last 10 Play-Off encounters between the sides at Jan Breydel have all produced a winner with Club keeping the points at home on 8 occasions and Genk emerging victorious twice.
KEY STATS
Christos Tzolis is Club Brugge’s new top scorer this season with 10 goals to his name. The Greek forward moves ahead of Ferran Jutglà, Gustaf Nilsson and Hans Vanaken, who are all level on 9.
Hans Vanaken leads the league in assists, having set up 10 goals in the Jupiler Pro League so far.
Both Vanaken and Brandon Mechele are on the verge of a significant milestone. The duo could make their 50th appearance of the season this weekend, more than any other player in Belgian club football. Genk’s most-used player, Tolu Arokodare, has featured in 37 matches to date.
Most Appearances in Belgian Club Football (2024/25):
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Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge) – 49 apps
.. Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) – 49 apps -
Anthony Moris (Union Saint-Gilloise) – 48 apps
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Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge) – 47 apps
.. Noah Sadiki (Union Saint-Gilloise) – 47 apps
.. Tibo Somers (Cercle Brugge) – 47 apps
Maxim De Cuyper, Ardon Jashari, Brandon Mechele, Simon Mignolet and Hans Vanaken are the five players who haven't missed a minute for Club in these Play-Offs.
Following his goal against Antwerp, Ardon Jashari has now been involved in 10 goals this season (4 goals, 6 assists) across 43 appearances. Christos Tzolis, meanwhile, has registered 25 goal contributions (15 goals, 10 assists) in all competitions.
Blauw-Zwart have found the net in 30 consecutive league matches, with their only blank came on matchday 2 away to Standard Liège (1-0 defeat). Among Europe’s top 10 leagues, only Ajax have scored in every single league fixture so far this season.
Club have won four of their last five Jupiler Pro League encounters with Genk, having failed to win any of the four prior to that run (1 draw, 3 defeats).
THE OPPOSITION
Torsten Fink has now led Genk to 23 league victories this season. The German becomes just the third coach from his country to manage in the Belgian Play-Offs, following in the footsteps of Christoph Daum (Club Brugge) and Alexander Blessin (Union Saint-Gilloise).
For Genk, Tolu Arokodare has been the standout in front of goal. The striker tops the club’s scoring charts with 18 league goals and has been directly involved in 23 goals in total, four more than Hans Vanaken, who has had a hand in 19.
Playmaker Jarne Steuckers is Genk’s leading assist provider with 7, but his doubtful for Sunday's fixture.
This weekend marks Genk’s 95th appearance in the Play-Offs. The Limburg side are just three goals shy of reaching 150 goals in PO1 history. Across their 10 previous Play-Off campaigns, Genk have lifted the title twice and finished runners-up on two occasions.
Youth continues to be a defining feature of Genk’s approach. Their starting XI in the Play-Offs has averaged just 23 years of age which is the youngest of all title-contending sides. In contrast, Club Brugge’s starting line-up is, on average, three-and-a-half years older.
MILESTONES
- Jorne Spileers is in line to make his 50th league appearance for Blauw-Zwart.
Gustaf Nilsson could feature in his 25th league match for Club Brugge. Including his 65 appearances for Union SG, it would also mark his 90th Jupiler Pro League outing.
THE MATCH OFFICIALS
Nicolas Laforge will take charge of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash. He’ll be assisted by Laurent Conotte and Vito Di Vincenzo, with Jasper Vergoote on fourth official duties. Quentin Pirard is on VAR, supported by Quentin Lesceux and Carlos-Manuel Serra Guerreiro Alho.
The 38-year-old from Limburg has officiated 46 official matches involving Club Brugge, including 21 at Jan Breydel of which Club have won 13, drawn 4 and lost 4. Laforge has already whisled two meetings between Club and Genk this season, both at the Cegeka Arena.