Charleroi - Club: the Club Facts

Tonight Club opens playday 6 at Charleroi Field. Need reading material during the long bus ride? Read the Club Facts!

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THE MATCH.

For the second time this season, Club Brugge will open a matchday in the Jupiler Pro League when it visits Sporting Charleroi. It is the 105th duel between the two teams in Belgium's top division. The 52 previous moves gave Club 24 wins, 17 draws and 11 defeats.

So if Club can win today, it will be their 25th win in Charleroi. For the first time in 5 seasons, Club could pick up another 6 out of 6 against the Carolos in 2021-2022. At Mambourg, Club won 0-1 after a late goal from King Charles. At home, it was 2-0 thanks to a brace from Mats Rits.

In the past 27 away matches, Club lost only twice at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi (14W 11D): In October 2016 and November 2018. With 10 out of 15, Club Brugge is in third place. This makes coach Hoefkens' best start for a new coach since Ivan Leko. Club's away defeat at KAS Eupen was Club's only in the Jupiler Pro League this calendar year 2022 (W8 D2).

Hans Vanaken, who celebrated his 30th birthday Wednesday, is still waiting for his first assist this season, but was already involved in Club's creation of 14 chances. Ferran Jutglà has been directly involved in 5 goals (3 goals + 2 assists). That is the highest number in the Jupiler Pro League, next to Daniel Muñoz and Mike Trésor of KRC Genk and Louis Patris of Oud-Heverlee Leuven. The Spaniard is assist king of Club (2 assists) and top shooter together with Skov Olsen (both 3 goals).

THE OPPONENT

Tonight Sporting Charleroi hosts Club Brugge. With 3 wins in their first 5 league matches, the Zebras are in a nice 5th place in the standings. Last weekend, Edward Still's team went on to win 1-3 at Zulte Waregem. They made up for an early lead by the home team through Fadera Still with goals by Daan Heymans, Joris Kayembe and Anass Zaroury.

In addition, Sporting Charleroi also won against KAS Eupen (3-1) and RFC Seraing (0-1) and lost to R. Union St.-Gilloise (1-0) and KV Oostende (1-3). Charleroi's top shooter is Anass Zaroury. The Belgian/Moroccan winger already hit 2 goals. The duo of Ryota Morioka and Adem Zorgane put 2 times a teammate on the way to a goal and is the club's top shooter.

This summer, the club said goodbye to Vakoun Issouf Bayo after only six months. Valentine Ozornwafor and Bingourou Kamara, among others, also left the club.

Already 5 home games in a row, Sporting Charleroi could not keep the zero. Of Sporting Charleroi's last 15 goals against Club, no fewer than 9 were scored after the 75th minute. Also this season, the Zebras were already able to score 4 times in the closing stages, more than any other club in that time period. With an average of 3.0 Belgians per match, only RFC Seraing (2.8) brings fewer compatriots to the kickoff than Sporting Charleroi.

MECHELE

Brandon Mechele can play his 250th league game for Club Brugge. Simon Mignolet can be between the posts for the 110th time in a league match. If he can keep the zero, he will do so for the 50th time at Club in the Jupiler Pro League. Cisse Sandra can play his 10th league match at Blauw-Zwart.

THE REFEREE

Jasper Vergoote was designated ref for the game between white-black and blue-black. Michael Geerolf and Martijn Tiesters will assist him along the lines. Fourth official is Brent Staessens. The VAR is Bert Put, flanked by Lennert Becquet and Gerd Bylois.

It is only the third time the 30-year-old ref will lead a Club Brugge match. From Sporting Charleroi he already whistled 6 official duels. 1 away match of Club under his direction was won. 3 home matches of the Zebras with Vergoote as ref ended in 1 win and 2 draws. It is the first time Vergoote has whistled a duel between the two clubs. He has been whistling matches in the Jupiler Pro League since 2019.