Club - Anderlecht: Club facts

The match

On Sunday it's that time again when Club faces Anderlecht again. It is already the 187th time in the history of the Belgian top division that the two teams meet.

Club won 43 of the previous 93 games against Anderlecht (last time 3-1 on 07/04/2024), 31 games resulted in a draw (last time 1-1 on 15/01/2023) and 19 in a defeat (last time 1-2 on 25/02/2024).

In this century, it is already the 74th tie between the two in the Jupiler Pro League, making it the most played fixture of the century, followed by Club against KRC Genk (68).
Last season, in the Champions' Play-Offs, Club ended a run of five home games in which it had not been able to beat Anderlecht, by winning 3-1. Brandon Mechele opened the score early on and Raphael Onyedika scored a double with two excellent strikes from outside of the penalty area. Dreyer pulled one back for the visitors. Club also came out on top in the return game when Denis Odoi tapped it in on a corner kick (0-1).

In the regular league, Club only got one point out of the two games against the team from the capital. At Jan Breydel it ended 1-2, which was in fact the only home defeat, and at the Lotto Park it ended all square (1-1).

Club Brugge (60.7%) and RSC Anderlecht (58.8%) have on average the highest ball possession in the Jupiler Pro League, apart from leader KRC Genk (60.9%).
Hans Vanaken joined Andreas Skov Olsen as Club Brugge's top marksman (both 4 goals) last weekend. After his goal against Westerlo, he is now already involved in 175 Club goals (102 goals + 73 assists) in the Jupiler Pro League.

Watch Vanaken's goals and assists of this season:

The central midfielder is the Jupiler Pro League player who scored the most against RSCA this century (13 times), followed by Mbaye Leye (12 times). Yet, in the last 8 duels against Anderlecht he was unable to ripple the net.

Assist king is still Gustaf Nilsson (4 assists). If he cannot play on Sunday, the Swede has been missing from the Club squad for 5 games in a row due to injury.
After the victory over KVC Westerlo, Club climbed to fourth place in the ranking (18 points) at 7 points from leader KRC Genk. Opponent Anderlecht follows at 1 point from Club.

Club and Anderlecht have both been awarded one penalty so far and conceded two in the league. Club Brugge is (together with KRC Genk and KVC Westerlo) the only team to have scored in 10 of the 11 league matches. Club only failed to score in the fixture at Standard.

Against KVC Westerlo, Club started the match with 6 academy graduates. It was the first time since the 1965-66 season that Club had so many players of their own in the starting line-up.

The opponent

After eleven fixtures, the record champion is sixth in the league with seventeen points. In the previous six seasons, Anderlecht only managed to get more points after eleven matchdays (21 in 2023-24 and 20 in 2020-21). Anderlecht haven't been able to win one of their last three away fixtures in the league (2D, 1L), but they're still far from their previous run of seven consecutive away games in a row without a win under Vincent Kompany in the 2020-21 season.

This season Anderlecht got 8 points out of a possible 15 on the road after beating Antwerp (1-2) and Mechelen (1-3) and drawing with Union (0-0 and Dender (1-1). Last weekend they lost against Beerschot (2-1).

Just over a month ago David Hubert was appointed coach at the club when Brian Riemer was dismissed from his duties. At 36, he is the youngest coach in the Jupiler Pro League. Hubert celebrated one win in the league (1W, 2D, 1L) but three in a row in the Conference League.

Last Thursday, Anderlecht faced Bulgaria's Ludogorets at home and won 2-0. They are now in third place.
Their top striker is the Dane Kasper Dolberg with three goals. He can play his 50th league match for Anderlecht. Mario Stroeykens provided the most assists: 4.

Anderlecht still cannot count on former internationals Thorgan Hazard and Jan Vertonghen because of a long-term injury.

Last summer, Anderlecht said goodbye to Zeno Debast and Kasper Schmeichel. Both players may still cross paths with Club Brugge in the Champions League with their new clubs Sporting Lisbon and Celtic FC respectively. Furthermore, Thomas Delaney, Federico Gattoni, Kristian Arnstad and Louis Patris, among others, also left the club.

Anderlecht reinforced itself with these players:

Defenders: Jan-Carlo Simić, Thomas Foket, Ludwig Augustinsson and Zanka
Midfielders: Leander Dendoncker
Attackers: Samuel Edozie

Former Club Brugge goalkeeper Colin Coosemans is the only RSCA player who has not missed a minute in the league this season.

Killian Sardella and Jan-Carlo Simić must avoid a yellow card, otherwise they are suspended for the next match.

Milestones

It is Club's 30th official match under coach Nicky Hayen (15W 7D 7L).
Brandon Mechele can play his 450th official match for Club.
For Casper Nielsen, it could be the 100th match at Blauw-Zwart. He can also play his 110th match in first division (39 for Union, 70 for Club).
Maxim De Cuyper may be in action for the 75th time at Club.
Michal Skoras awaits his 60th appearance at Club.
Ardon Jashari can play his 10th game for Club Brugge.
Gustaf Nilsson can play his 10th league match for Club. He can also play his 75th match in first division (65 for Union, 9 for Club).

More stats

First division: 186 duels | 56 wins for Club, 62 draws and 68 nederlagen | 241 goals scored, 278 conceded

Second division: 6 duels | 3 wins, 3 defeats | 7 goals scored, 12 goals conceded

Cup: 12 duels | 7 wins for Club Club, 0 draws and 5 defeats | 18 goals scored and 22 conceded

Supercup: 7 duels | 4 wins for Club, 1 draw and 2 nederlagen | 12 goals scored and 9 conceded.

TOTAAL: 211 duels | 68 wins for Club, 63 draws, 78 defeats | 274 goals scored, 320 goals conceded.

Man in black

Jasper Vergoote has been appointed referee for this top fixture. He will be assisted by Michael Geerolf and Martijn Tiesters. Simon Bourdeaud'hui is the fourth official. Erik Lambrechts is the video assistant referee, assisted by Ella De Vries and Dieter Van Esch.