Antwerp - Club: the Club Facts

Sunday Club heads to the Bosuil for the away game against number four Antwerp. Read below all Club Facts for the topper of the 12th matchday!

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THE MATCH

Next Sunday the match between the 2 oldest clubs in First Division is scheduled. It is already the 163rd meeting between the two teams in First Class. The 81 previous duels at the Bosuil ended in 27 wins, 23 draws and 31 defeats for Club.

In the past 11 away matches at the Bosuil, Club lost only once (5W and 5D).

Last season in the regular league both teams won their away match against each other 0-2. At the Bosuil, Diatta and Rits hit for Club, while Blauw-Zwart collected goals from Lamkel Zé and Refaelov at home. In the Champions' Play-Offs, Club made it 4 out of 6 against the Great Old. No goals were scored in Antwerp and in Brugge Club was close to its 17th national title after a 2-1 victory (De Ketelaere, Vanaken | Mbokani)

Club Brugge could already record 9 away wins in the 2021 calendar year and, subject to a win over Antwerp, could record 10 away wins in a calendar year for the first time since 2004.

THE OPPONENT

After one third of the regular competition, Antwerp is 4th in the standings on 2 points from Union St.-Gillis and Club Brugge.

Antwerp achieved a 10 out of 15 on its own field. It won its last 3 home matches against RFC Seraing (2-1), KRC Genk (4-2) and KAA Gent (1-0) and before that it played a draw against OHL (2-2) and lost to KV Kortrijk (0-1).

Last weekend on the field of Zulte Waregem, Antwerp still gave away an earlier lead through Manuel Benson via goals from Gano and Kutesa) (2-1).

The man to keep an eye on is Michael Frey. The Swiss, who spent another season for Waasland-Beveren last year, has already hit 12 goals in 13 official matches this season.

Since this summer, former Club Brugge player Brian Priske has been the Great Old's coach. As a footballer in Belgium, he played 2 seasons for Club Brugge and as many seasons for KRC Genk.

In addition to a new coach, Antwerp attracted a slew of fresh names this summer:

Defenders: Jelle Bataille [KV Oostende], Björn Engels [Aston Villa (Eng)], Dorian Dessoleil [Sporting Charleroi], Sam Vines (Usa) [Colorado Rapids (Usa)], Dinis Almeida (Por) [Lokomotiv Plovdic (Bul)]
Midfielders: Radja Nainggolan [Internazionale (Ita)], Alhassan Yusuf (Nga) [IFK Göteborg (Swe)], Pierre Dwomoh (Bel/Gha) [KRC Genk], Birger Verstraete [permanently acquired from FC Köln (Ger)]
Attackers: Michael Frey (Sui) [Fenerbahçe (Tur)], Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Bel/Cod) [Standard], Johannes Eggestein (Ger) [Werder Bremen (Ger)], Ally Samatta (Tan) [Fenerbahçe (Tur)], Benson [back from PEC Zwolle (Ned)]

MIJLPALS

Éder Balanta can play his 75th match for Club Brugge. For youth product Ignace Van der Brempt, it could be the 25th match at Club.

Clinton Mata can play his 100th league match at Blauw-Zwart!

For 16-year-old Noah Mbamba, it may already be the 10th league match at Club.

THE REFEREE

Nathan Verboomen was designated ref for the classic. He will be assisted by assistant referees Mathias Hillaert and Ruben Wyns and by fourth official Jan Boterberg. The VAR on duty is Lothar D'Hondt, flanked by Thibaud Nijssen and Christophe Snoeck.

The 33-year-old ref is whistling Blauw-Zwart's 12th official match. The 4 previous away matches in that series ended in 3 wins and 1 draw. It is the first time he will have to manage a match between the two teams.

OTHER MATCHES OF THIS MATCHDAY

Fri 22/10 20:45 RFC Seraing - Sp. du Pays de Charleroi

Sat 23/10 16:15 Cercle Brugge KSV - R. Standard de Liège
Sat 23/10 18:30 KV Kortrijk - KV Oostende
Sat 23/10 18:30 YR KV Mechelen - SV Zulte Waregem
Sat 23/10 20:45 KAS Eupen - R. Union St.-Gilloise

Sun 24/10 16:00 RSC Anderlecht - K. Beerschot VA
Sun 24/10 18:30 KRC Genk - KAA Gent
Sun 24/10 21:00 Oud-Heverlee Leuven - K. Sint-Truidense VV