Club - Anderlecht: the Club facts

In a sold-out Jan Breydel, we will receive RSC Anderlecht on Sunday. You can read everything you need to know about the classic here!

The Match

Next Sunday it's time for the classic match between Club Brugge and RSC Anderlecht. It's already the 187th time in the history of the Belgian highest league that this battle takes place. The 93 previous home matches against the Brusselers ended in 43 wins (last time 3-1 on 07/04/2024), 31 draws (last time 1-1 on 15/01/2023) and 19 defeats (last time 1-2 on 25/02/2024).

In this century, it is already the 74th meeting between the two teams in the Jupiler Pro League. This makes it the most played poster in this century of any team, followed by Club vs KRC Genk (68 times).

Last season in the playoffs, Club ended a run of five home games in which it could not beat Anderlecht. It knocked off purple and white 3-1. Brandon Mechele opened the score early and with two beautiful shots from outside the sixteen, Raphael Onyedika put Club on the road to victory. The honoree was Anders Dreyer (3-1). The return match Club was able to win in the lion's den thanks to a goal by Denis Odoi (0-1), giving Club enough with 1 point on the last match day for its 19th national title.

In the regular competition, Club had not yet been able to win against Anderlecht. In fact, Anderlecht was the only team to win at Jan Breydel last season (1-2). At the Lotto Park earlier in the season, Club had failed to get beyond a 1-1 draw.

In the last 20 mutual league duels, Club lost only twice (9W 9D). In the regular league, Club had already failed to win at home against Purple White three times in a row (2D 1L). The longest home series in which that failed was 6 home matches in a row (1981-1986).

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 the Kemphans, he has now been involved in 175 Club goals (102 goals + 73 assists) in the Jupiler Pro League.

Review all of Vanaken's goals and assists this season below:

The Limburg midfielder is the Jupiler Pro League player who could score the most often against RSCA this century (13 times), followed by Mbaye Leye (12 times). Yet he could not shake the nets in the last 8 duels with purple and white.

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 only got 1 penalty in front and 2 penalties against each in the Jupiler Pro League. Club Brugge is (together with KRC Genk and KVC Westerlo) the only team to have scored in 10 of the 11 league matches. Only at Standard could Blauw-Zwart not score.

Against KVC Westerlo, Club started the match with 6 players of their own training. It was not since the 1965-66 season that Club had so many of its own youth in the starting line-up.

The opponent

Sunday, RSC Anderlecht will be our guest at Jan Breydel.

After 11 playing days, the record champion is sixth in the rankings with 17 points. In the last 6 seasons, the club managed to get more points after 11 playing days only twice (21 in 2023-24 and 20 in 2020-21).

Anderlecht already failed to win three away matches in a row in the Jupiler Pro League (2D2 1L). It was ago from November 2020-January 2021 when they failed to win 7 away matches in a row under Vincent Kompany.

RSCA made it 8 out of 15 on the road this season. It went on to win at Antwerp (1-2) and KV Mechelen (1-3), drew at Union (0-0) and Dender (1-1) and lost to Beerschot (2-1) last weekend.

Just over a month ago, David Hubert was appointed coach at the club to succeed Brian Riemer. At 36, he is the youngest coach in the Jupiler Pro League. Under Hubert, Anderlecht could only win once (2D 1L), but did get 3 wins in a row in Europe.

Also last Sunday, the record champion went on to win in the UEFA Europa League. It knocked Bulgarian Ludogorets 2-0. After that win, the club is in third place in the UEL rankings.

Sporting's top shooter is Dane Kasper Dolberg (3 goals). He can play his 50th league match for RSCA on Sunday. Mario Stroeykens already set a teammate up for a goal 4 times.

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 JPL this season.

Killian Sardella and Jan-Carlo Simić must avoid a yellow card to avoid being 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 Blue-Black. 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).
  

Total statistics

First Class: 186 duels, 56 wins for Club, 62 draws and 68 defeats, 241 goals for and 278 against

Second Division: 6 duels, 3 wins, 3 defeats, 7 goals for, 12 goals against
Cup: 12 duels, 7 wins for Club, 0 draws and 5 defeats, 18 goals for and 22 against

Super Cup: 7 duels, 4 wins for Club, 1 draw and 2 defeats, 12 goals for and 9 against.

TOTAL: 211 duels, 68 wins for Club, 63 draws, 78 defeats, 274 goals for and 320 goals against

Referee

Jasper Vergoote was appointed ref for the topper. He will be assisted by linesmen Michael Geerolf and Martijn Tiesters and by fourth official Simon Bourdeaud'hui. The VAR is Erik Lambrechts. He will be assisted in Tubize by Ella De Vries and Dieter Van Esch.

The 32-year-old ref will whistle an official match of Club Brugge for the 15th time. He has previously conducted 4 of Club's home matches (2W 2D). Vergoote was referee in 10 matches of purple and white. 4 away matches of which resulted in 2 wins and 2 draws.

It is the first time he will referee a match between Club and Anderlecht. Earlier this season, Vergoote refereed Club's home match against Cercle (3-0) and Anderlecht's home matches against STVV (1-0) and Sporting Charleroi (0-0).