On Wednesday, Club takes on another Antwerp team. Last Sunday there was the home game against R. Antwerp. Now follows the duel for the 1/16th final of the Croky Cup at the Kiel against K. Beerschot VA. Read all Club Facts below!
Both clubs have a rich history against each other. No less than 3 times Club and Beerschot faced each other in the cup final. In 1968, penalties decided in Club's favor. But both in 1979 and 2005, the Mannekes won.
Since the cup reform in 1963, it is the 61st consecutive time Club Brugge has been able to qualify for this round. In fact, from 1963 to 1991, Club had to play another 1/32 final first to get into this round. Of the 60 previous participations in the 1/16th final of the Belgian Cup, Club managed to qualify for the 1/8th final 46 times (76.7%). 14 times it was eliminated (23.3%).
Brandon Mechele is the only player to achieve a cup victory with Club (2015). Hans Vanaken is the player with most cup experience (42 matches, including 30 for Club). Denis Odoi (31) and Brandon Mechele (30) also played more than 25 Belgian cup matches in their careers. Of the current core, 3 players have already been able to score for Club in the Croky Cup: Hans Vanaken (9), Brandon Mechele (4) and Éder Balanta (3).
About the opponent
After the bankruptcy of Beerschot AC in 2013, the club started again with the support of KFCO Wilrijk. At lightning speed it went from First Provincial to 1st Class B by playing 4 seasons in a row between 2014 and 2017. After 3 seasons at the second level, promotion to the Jupiler Pro League succeeded in 2020. In 2020-21, the club finished in a nice 9th place, with 1 of the highlights being a 0-1 win at Jan Breydel. Midfielder Raphael Holzhauser (16g + 16 ass) took second place in the Golden Shoe election. But the following year things went wrong for the Mannekes and Beerschot relegated after finishing last. Last season, Beerschot was able to finish 3rd in the Challenger Pro League but could not compete in the title fight between R.W.D.M. and SK Beveren.
For the second year in a row, Austrian Andreas Wieland is Beerschot's coach.
After 10 playing days, Beerschot is ranked third (17 points) in the Challenger Pro League. It has 3 points less than leader Zulte Waregem and 1 point more than fourth-ranked Club NXT. Beerschot does still have a catch-up match against red lantern SL16 remaining.
Last weekend Beerschot suffered its second defeat of the season. It went down 0-1 at home against Timmy Simons' FCV Dender after a late goal by Michael Lallemand.
Top shooter was Liberian striker Ayouba Kosiah with 3 goals. Thibaud Verlinden in the assist king. He set a teammate on his way to a goal 4 times. With defender Hervé Matthys and striker Thibaud Verlinden, the club has 2 players with a past in the youth of Club Brugge. Beerschot has the best defense in the Challenger Pro League (along with Lommel SK and SK Beveren). It only conceded 9 goals against.
Last summer, the club said goodbye to star players Dante Rigo [Grenoble Foot (Fra)], Thibo Baeten [Go Ahead Eagles (Ned)], Nökkvi Thorisson (Isl) [St. Louis City (Usa)], Léo Seydoux (Sui) [back to Westerlo], Jan Van den Bergh [NAC Breda (Ned)], Ilias Sebaoui (Mar/Bel) [Feyenoord (Ned), loaned to Dordrecht (Ned)].
Beerschot reinforced itself with attackers Simion Michez [RSCA Futures], Charly Keita (Fra/Civ) [Clermont Foot (Fra)], Tom Reyners [SK Beveren] and Benjamin Pauwels [KAA Gent], midfielder Welat Cagro [NAC Breda (Ned)] and defender Derrick Tshimanga [SK Beveren], among others.
