For the second match of the Champions’ Play-Offs, the Blues travel to Sint-Truiden. Everything about the match against STVV, all in one place: our Club Facts!
THE FIXTURE
Today, Club Brugge travels to the south of Limburg for the second match of the Champions’ Play-Offs, facing locals STVV in what will be the 97th duel between the two teams in the Belgian top flight. The statistics for the 48 previous away matches at Stayen are completely balanced: 16 wins, 16 draws, and 16 defeats.
On Saturday, it will only be the second time Club faces STVV at Stayen in the context of the play-offs. This exact fixture was, in 2010, the very first match in the history of the Champions’ Play-Offs. A Club Brugge side under the management of Adrie Koster then only managed a 0–0 draw at Stayen. At STVV, 22-year-old Simon Mignolet was the goalkeeper at the time.
Club Brugge are unbeaten in their last eight Jupiler Pro League matches (7W, 1D). They are also unbeaten in the Champions’ Play-Offs for 11 matches in a row (9W, 2D). The last defeat dates back to May 2023, when Club lost 3–2 away at Royal Antwerp FC.
Club opened its 16th Champions’ Play-Offs campaign with a win against RSC Anderlecht. At halftime, it was 3–0 thanks to goals by Kyriani Sabbe, Aleksandar Stanković, and Christos Tzolis. The second half saw goals from the visitors scored through Thorgan Hazard and Mihajlo Cvetković, before Romeo Vermant fired in the final score at 4–2 just before the end.
Since no player scored twice on the opening matchday of the Champions’ Play-Offs, Club has four joint top scorers in this final phase with one goal each: Kyriani Sabbe, Aleksandar Stanković, Christos Tzolis, and Romeo Vermant.
Christos Tzolis has already been involved in 25 goals in the Jupiler Pro League this season (10 goals + 15 assists), matching his output from last season. With 15 assists, he is also the league’s assist leader. On Saturday, the Greek could also play his 100th official match for Club. In his previous 99 matches, he has been involved in 71 goals (36 goals + 35 assists). This will also be a special match for Ivan Leko, having coached STVV in the 2016–17 season.
Club Brugge (28 points) and STVV (26 points) are the two teams that have earned the most away points in the Jupiler Pro League this season.
THE OPPONENT
Today, STVV hosts Club Brugge. Coach Wouter Vrancken's outfit had to play in the relegation play-offs last season but followed it up with a ticket to this year's Champions’ Play-Offs.
For the Canaries, this is only their second Champions’ Play-Offs stint, having made it just once, in the very first edition. At that time, they finished fourth, but Europe Play-Off winners KRC Genk still secured a European ticket through the playoffs.
STVV kicked off this Champions’ Play-Off campaign against the champions of the past two years. Away at Union Saint-Gilloise, STVV lost 1–0 on the opening day, with Guilherme Smith scoring the only goal. It was their fourth defeat in their last five matches. At the end of the regular season, the Limburg side also lost against Antwerp, Genk, and Union SG.
Sint-Truiden is currently in third position in the Jupiler Pro League. They hope to qualify for a European ticket for the first time in their history. Between 1999 and 2003, they participated in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, a summer tournament that could grant entry to the UEFA Cup.
Anderlecht loanee Keisuke Goto is STVV’s top scorer with 10 goals. Together with his compatriot Rihito Yamamoto, he is also the club’s best assist provider, with 5 assists.
MILESTONES
- Bjorn Meijer can play his 140th match for Club Brugge.
- Joel Ordóñez could reach 120 matches for the Blues.
- Kyriani Sabbe can play his 110th match for Club.
- Christos Tzolis could play his 100th match for FCB.
- Nicolò Tresoldi and Nordin Jackers can both reach 50 matches for Club.
- Raphael Onyedika could reach his 120th league match for Club.
- Brandon Mechele could play his 410th First Division match (18 for STVV and 391 for Club).
- Gustaf Nilsson could reach his 100th Jupiler Pro League match (65 for Union SG and 34 for Club Brugge).
THE MAN IN BLACK
Mr. Lothar D’Hondt has been appointed as referee for this match. He will be assisted by linesmen Mr. Romain Devillers and Mr. Nico Claes. The fourth official is Mr. Bert Verbeke. The VAR is Mr. Bram Van Driessche, assisted by Mr. Michele Seeldraeyers.
The 31-year-old referee from East Flanders will officiate a Club Brugge match for the 33rd time. On 15 previous occasions, he refereed Club away matches, with Club winning 9 times, drawing 3 times, and losing 3 matches. Earlier this season, Mr. D’Hondt already refereed the duel between Club and STVV at Jan Breydel (2–0). He also officiated four other Club matches in the regular season (2 wins, 1 draw).