The match
On Tuesday night, Club Brugge will be hosting the game against Portuguese sides Sporting Clube de Portugal of Lisbon, and this in the final UEFA Champions League match of 2024. For the first time since 1994, there will be games set in the group/league phase of the Champions League after the New Year.
Some European stats for this match:
- The encounter will be Club's 367th match in Europe, whereas Sporting will be featuring in Europ for the 374th time.
- For the 89th time, a Belgian team will be taking up the gauntlet against a Portuguese club.
- The 102nd UEFA Champions League game for Club, of which 68 in the group stages.
- For both Club Brugge and Sporting CP, this is the 11th UCL campaign (group stages).
The two teams are set to meet for the 3rd time on the European stage. A particularly special encounter for Club too, as Sporting CP was the very first team ever to entertain Club Brugge in Europe.
In 1967-1968, both teams met in the Fair Cities Cup, the predecessor of the UEFA Cup. At the Klokke, the match ended goalless, while the return game at the Estádio José Alvalade ended in 2-1: the home team took the lead through Salvador Sitoé Laurenço, but Raoul Lambert quickly equalized for Club. After halftime, Sporting was still able to qualify thanks to an owngoal by Club defender Gaby Savat.
The team that played the very first European match for Club, on 13 September 1967 at home to Sporting Lisbon (0-0), consisted of: goalkeeper Fernand Boone - defenders Kurt Axelsson (Swe), André Verlinden, Erwin Vandendaele, Brian Hill (Eng) - midfielders Pierre Carteus, Freddy Hinderyckx, Gilbert Bailliu - strikers Walter Loske (Aut), Johny Thio and Raoul Lambert (substitute Fons Bastijns for Thio).
Apart from those encounters, the Lions were guests in Bruges twice on the occasion of the Brugse Metten. In 1986, the Metten were in tournament form with 4 clubs and the two teams did not play each other. In 2019, the confrontation ended in a 2-2 draw, after which Club won the penalty kick series. David Okéréké put Club in the lead, but through goals by Bruno Fernandes (pen.) and Jovane Cabral, Sporting turned the situation around. Hans Vanaken put it in balance again from the spot.
5 Match Days into the UEFA Champions League phase, Club is now in 22nd position with 7 points. Club will have to keep hold of its place in the top 24, as all teams outside of it will be out at the end of the league phase.
- On the first match day, Club lost by an, admittedly exaggerated, 0-3 score to UCL finalist Borussia Dortmund (Jamie Gittens 2x, Serhou Guirassy).
- More success for Club on the second match day: it went on to win 0-1 at Austrian champions SK Sturm Graz thanks to a beauty by Christos Tzolis.
- On the third match day, Club went to rest at AC Milan one goal behind (Pulisic) and one man down (red card Onyedika). After the break, Club managed to draw level thanks to a goal by Kyriani Sabbe, but Tijjani Reijnders put the match in a final fold in favor of the home team with 2 goals (3-1).
- On the fourth match day, Club was able to upset through a win against Premier League side Aston Villa FC. After a bizarre handball by Villa defender Mings, captain Hans Vanaken was able to score from the spot.
- On the previous match day, Club came home with a point after a 1-1 draw at Celtic FC. Club took the lead after an owngoal by Cameron Carter-Vickers. After the break, Daizen Maeda was still able to salvage a draw for the Scots.
It will be a special match for coach Nicky Hayen. It is not only Club Brugge's 40th match under his watch, but also Club's 10th European match that he will be coach.
On Saturday, Club Brugge were able to win at KV Mechelen (1-2) and are now in a 10 game unbeaten run (8W 2D). On the downside, Club has not been able to hold on to a clean sheet for 4 games on end.
In the UCL, Club managed to win 3 of its last 5 home games (2L). That's as many home wins as in the 22 matches before that (7D 12L). In its last 10 UCL matches, Club could not score more than once.
With ten points harvested so far, Sporting CP is 3 points ahead of Club Brugge, and is in 10th position.
- The verde e brancos (green-whites) were able to beat Thomas Meunier's French LOSC Lille 2-0 on the opening day, Viktor Gyökeres opening the scoring and a fantastic goal allowed our compatriot Zeno Debast to double the score.
- On the 2nd match day, Sporting pulled off a 1-1 draw at PSV's Philips Stadium. The home team took the lead through Jerdy Schouten, but in the closing stages Daniel Bragança was able to draw level.
- After Club Brugge on the 2nd matchday, Sporting also hosted SK Sturm Graz on the third matchday. Nuno Santos and Viktor Gyökeres ensured a 0-2 win in Austria.
- On the fourth matchday, Sporting pulled off a great upset by beating English champions Manchester City FC 4-1. Phil Foden provided an early goal for the visitors, but thanks to a hat-trick by Viktor Gyökeres and a goal by Maxi Araújo, it became a great night for the Sportinguistas.
- On the previous match day, Sporting could not repeat the feat against Arsenal FC. Sporting lost heavily to the London club on their own ground. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gariel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard scored for Arsenal, Gonçalo Inácio saved the honor for the home team.
According to data agency Football Meets Data, which made 10,000 simulations for the last 3 playing days of the UCL, at the end of the league phase a club is sure of the top 24 from 11 points and at 10 points there is also a great certainty with 87%. At 9 points (46%) and 8 points (11%), the chances get smaller and smaller.
The opponent
Sporting Clube de Portugal is a soccer club from the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Founded 118 years ago (1906), it sits as one of Portugal's "big three" alongside FC Porto and eternal rivals SL Benfica. The intense battle with Benfica is called "the eternal derby." Sporting's nickname is Leões (the Lions) like the symbol in their club logo. From 1956 to 2003 they played at the Estádio José Alvalade, then moved to the new stadium of the same name. The club has a renowned youth schooling department that produced the likes of Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. The club celebrated 20 national titles and 17 cups, and has 1 European Cup in its cabinet: the Cup Winners' Cup in 1963-64 as it won the final at the expense of MTK Budapest (Hun).
In the UEFA Champions League, Sporting was able to survive the group stage 2 times, but then encountered giants on each occasion: Bayern Munich (2009) and Manchester City (2022).
Last season:
- Sporting became champions of Portugal for the 20th time, its second title in the last 4 years. It gained 90 points, 10 more than runners-up Benfica.
- Sporting also played the Cup Final, but was not able to grab that double, losing to FC Porto 2-1. In the Allianz Cup (the league cup), the team was brought down in the Semis (vs SC Braga).
- In the UEFA Europa League group stages, Sporting finished second behind winners Atalanta BC (Ita), in a pool that also included Sturm Graz (Aut) and Raków Czestochowa (Pol). In the knockout playoffs BSC Young Boys (Sui) was defeated, but in the Round of 16 it again encountered Atalanta BSC.
- Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres became top shooter with no fewer than 43 goals! Portuguese Nuno Santos handed out the most assists with 18.
13 match days into the current season, Sporting CP is once again leading the pack with 33 points, 2 points more than eternal rivals Benfica and Porto. Sporting started the season out great with 11 wins in a row, but after the defeat in the UCL against Arsenal, 2 surprising defeats against Santa Clara (0-1) and Moreirense (2-1) followed.
At Moreirense, Sporting had taken the lead through a penalty kick by top marksman Gyökeres. But after a free kick, the home team soon equalized and things got worse for Sporting when Schettine popped in with a distance shot to make it 2-1. Unable to draw one back it ran into its third defeat on a spin.
In the Portuguese Cup, Sporting CP is in the Round of 16 where it is set to meet with Santa Clara next week. In the league cup, FC Porto is the next opponent in the Semis.
Sporting's success did not go unnoticed by Europe's top clubs either. When Manchester United sought a successor to Dutch coach Erik ten Hag in November, it came knocking on Lisbon's door to recruit their coach Ruben Amorim. He had been coaching Sporting since 2020. As a successor, the Portuguese champion appointed João Pereira. The 40-year-old Portuguese was a former player of the club (as well as Trabzonspor, Braga, Benfica and Valencia, among others) who hung up his shoes in 2021. He started as assistant and head coach with Sporting's pledges and now got his coach as head coach of the A team. So since his arrival, Sporting has just been in a down period with 3 defeats in a row.
Swedish striker with Hungarian roots Viktor Gyökeres (26) is the man in form at Sporting.
- He could already score 25 times in 22 games this season.
- 5 goals of those were in the UEFA Champions League. He needs to score 1 more time to keep up with the club's all-time leading goalscorer, who scored 6 times in 15 matches in Europacup I/UCL.
- If you also add the 9 goals (in 6 matches) of the Swedish national team, he is one of the best scoring players in Europe.
- In the summer of 2023, when Sporting bought him from Coventry City, he was the most expensive incoming transfer in club history.
- At 1.5 years, he already sits at a staggering 68 goals in 72 games for the green and whites.
- He played 2 times (1 goal) with Sweden against the Red Devils during the European Championship qualifiers in 2023.
Assist king of the club is Portuguese right winger Tincão (24). He already set a teammate on his way to a goal 11 times. Captain of the team is midfielder Morten Hjulmand (25). The Danish international was recruited from Lecce (Ita) last season.
English striker Marcus Edwards already played European against a Belgian club once in 2019: in the UEL group stage with Vitória SC against Standard.
Last summer, Sporting loaned Greek midfielder Sotiris Alexandropoulos to Standard Liege. It also said goodbye to Sebastián Coats, Dário Essugo , Paulinho, Koba Koindredi, Rafael Pontelo, Luís Neto, Issahaku Fatawu and Mateus Fernandes, among others.
Since this summer, our compatriot Zeno Debast has been with Sporting. The defender came over from RSC Anderlecht, where he played since he was seven years old. The Belgian international made a good start with a goal and an assist at the Champions League and an assist in the league. He played 19 of the last 22 matches at Sporting.
In addition to Debast, these players, among others, came to the club from Lisbon:
- Goalkeeper: Vladan Kovačević
- Attackers: Geovany Quenda, Maxi Araújo and Conrad Harder
Mijpalen
- 10th European match & 40th match as coach Nicky Hayen
- Hans Vanaken may play his 475th official match for Club Brugge.
- 5 Club players have not missed a minute (450 min) in the UCL: Simon Mignolet, Maxim De Cuyper, Bandon Mechele, Hans Vanaken and Joel Ordóñez. There is no team in the UCL this season that has so many players for whom this is the case.
- Hans Vanaken can play his 80th European match, which would allow him to keep up with Timmy Simons. Club's top 5 most European matches: 1. Gert Verheyen (88), 2. Timmy Simons & Brandon Mechele (80), 4. Hans Vanaken (79), 5. Dany Verlinden & Franky Van der Elst (78).
- Andreas Skov Olsen may be in action for the 120th time at Club.
- Hugo Vetlesen may play his 75th match for Club. It may also be his 20th European match for FCB.
- For Kyriani Sabbe, it may be the 50th match for Blue-Black.
- Christos Tzolis may finish his 25th match for Club. He can also play the 20th European match of his career: 10 for PAOK FC (Gre), 4 for FC Twente (Ned) and 5 for Club Brugge.
- Ardon Jashari can make his 20th appearance with FCB.
- Casper Nielsen can play his 25th European match for Club.
The referee
Englishman Mr. Anthony Taylor was designated ref for this UCL match. He will be assisted by his compatriots Mr. Gary Beswick and Mr. Adam Nunn. Fourth official is Mr. Craig Pawson and in charge of VAR will be Mr. Peter Banke.
The UEFA referee observer is Mr. Juan Antonio Fernández Marín (Esp). The UEFA representative is Mr. Michal Mertinyák (Svk).
Mr. Anthony Taylor is a 46-year-old UEFA elite ref from the northwestern region of Cheshire, in charge of Premier League games since 2010 and in Europe since 2013. He led the 2023 UEL final (Sevilla vs. AS Roma) and officiated at the 2024 European Championship (Germany), 2020 European Championship (Europe) and the 2022 World Cup (Qatar).
It is already the third time he will be leading a European match of Club Brugge. Previously, he refereed the UEL preliminary round match WKS Śląsk Wrocław (Pol) vs Club Brugge in 2013 and led the UCL group stage match Club Brugge vs S.S. Lazio (Ita) in 2020.
It is already Club Brugge's 23rd European match overseen by an English ref.