Are you making the trip to the Kiel tomorrow? Then make sure you're perfectly prepared along the way with the latest Club Facts!
The match
On Sunday, Beerschot and Club Brugge will conclude the 14th matchday in the Jupiler Pro League at the Kiel. It will be a duel between last season's champions from the Challenger Pro League and the Jupiler Pro League. For both teams, this is the last match before the international break....
Club has good memories of previous away matches against Beerschot. In the last four encounters Club remained unbeaten (3W 1D). Club is also ahead of the Rats in the league with only one loss in the last nine JPL matches between them (7W 1D). The last time Beerschot beat Club was in 2020, just after their previous promotion (0-1, Holzhauser). Club dominated their last league encounters in 2021-22 with a 6 out of 6 (3-2 and 1-3).
Last year, the two teams met again in the Croky Cup, where Club turned out with a convincing 0-6. Andreas Skov Olsen excelled then with two goals and two assists. After his goal in Leuven last week, Skov Olsen is now back on top of Club's top shooter list with five goals.
The opponent
Beerschot is back in the Jupiler Pro League after two seasons of absence. Since matchday 5, however, coach Dirk Kuyt's team has been at the bottom of the standings. The club has only gathered six points and is eight points behind the trio of Charleroi, Kortrijk and STVV. Coach Kuyt recently led his team to a stunt victory against Anderlecht (2-1) and a 0-0 draw against Gent, which boosted morale.
Last summer, Beerschot strengthened heavily with new acquisitions, including goalkeeper Nick Shinton, who had been with Club Brugge since 2016 and now started six games in a row for Beerschot. Defenders Brian Plat, Loïc Mbe Soh and Colin Dagba also joined the Rats, while Thibaud Verlinden, son of Club legend Dany Verlinden, is currently the assist king with three assists. Attackers Marwan Al-Sahafi and Simion Michez lead Beerschot's top scorer list with two goals each.
Milestones
- Hans Vanaken could play his 350th league game for Club on Sunday. Last week he equaled Gustaf Nilsson with four assists, bringing him to a total of 132 goals and 93 assists in 468 official matches for Club. He has been involved in a goal each of the last three league games and can match his record of four involved matches in a row this weekend.
- Simon Mignolet can also reach a special milestone: he will be between the posts for the 190th time in the Jupiler Pro League for Club on Sunday.
- Michal Skoras can play his 40th league game tomorrow in the Kiel.
- Ardon Jashari can be in action for the 10th time for Blauw-Zwart
- Maxim De Cuyper hopes to play his 90th match in First Division (39 for Westerlo, 50 for Club).
Referee
Bram Van Driessche will lead the match on Sunday. For the 39-year-old East Fleming, this is the 30th time he has whistled an official match of Blauw-Zwart. Club Brugge managed to win eight times in the previous thirteen away games with Van Driessche as referee (8W, 3D, 3L). At his side are Yves De Neve and Wouter Cochet as linesmen, with Laurent Willems as fourth official. In the VAR van, Quentin Pirard provides assistance, along with Vito Di Vincenzo and Carlos-Manuel Serra Guerreiro Alho.