The last straight run to the start of the league has begun. Two more practice matches and the Super Cup follow before we kick off the Jupiler Pro League. The final assignment of our practice campaign is a match against England's Norwich City FC.
After an intensive training camp in Sint-Michielsgestel and a draw against Dutch champion PSV, Blauw-Zwart is further preparing itself on home soil for the start of the league. Tomorrow morning, a very young Club Brugge will look Dender promoters in the eye at Basecamp (behind closed doors) and in the evening the match against English second division side Norwich City FC will follow. This match will take place at The NEST in Roeselare. Do you want to follow this match live? Get your tickets now!
Below you can read everything to prepare for the last training match of the preparation.
Getting ready for training
Last Saturday Club Brugge were guests at PSV's training camp De Herdgang in Eindhoven to conclude their summer training with a Derby der Lage Landskampioenen.
The third practice match of the preparation ended in a 1-1 draw. Club took the lead thanks to a goal by Nielsen. A pass from Hans Vanaken was nicely kicked in by the Dane. Fifteen minutes later, PSV scored the equalizer. Belgian Moroccan Ismaël Saibari ran in from the left flank and curled the ball into the goal (1-1).
At Club, newcomer Christos Tzolis played his first minutes for FCB. After halftime, the other newcomer Zaid Romero also returned to action. Club could thus look back on a successful training camp in Sint-Michielsgestel, Netherlands.
The opponent
The match against Norwich City FC is the fifth and final practice match before the start of the season. The match will be played at The NEST in Roeselare.
"The Canaries" are from the East English city of Norwich and play their home matches at Carrow Road. The club was founded in 1902 and grabbed 5 titles at the second level (last time 2021), as well as 2 League Cups (1962 and 1985).
The club's nickname (Canaries) is because there used to be a tradition of breeding those birds in the region. As a result, the club also plays in yellow and green colors. The supporters' song "On The Ball, City" is the oldest soccer song in the world and dates back to 1890s. Now the song still echoes at Carrow Road.
Since the start of the Premier League in 1992, of the past 32 seasons, the club played 10 years at the top level. In the Premier League's inaugural season, Norwich achieved its best league performance by finishing third. It played its only European campaign the following season and made it to the third round.
In recent years, Norwich City has been shuffling between the Championship and the Premier League. In both 2019 and 2021, the Yellows became champions in the Championship, but just as many times they relegated straight back from the Premier League the following season.
Last season, they missed out on promotion. Norwich qualified for the promotion playoffs by finishing sixth in the EFL Championship, but fell in the playoffs against Leeds United. Norwich will thus be active at the second English level for the third year in a row next season.
After 1.5 season, American coach David Wagner was sacked. Danish coach Johannes Thorup, who enjoyed a spectacular European campaign with FC Nordsjælland last season, signed a contract for three seasons and must try to steer the Canaries back to the Premier League.
Norwich City had three players at the UEFA Euro 2024 with Scots Angus Gunn (goalkeeper), Grant Hanley (defender) and Kenny McLean (midfielder).
With 16 goals, American striker Josh Sargent became the club's top shooter last season. Brazilian Gabriel Sara handed out the most assists (12).
The club already played 1 friendly match in its preparation: it won 0-3 at Northampton Town FC (League One). Jonathan Rowe signed for 2 goals and promise Aboh recorded the final score. Practice matches against Standard Liege and against German clubs 1. FC Magdeburg and St. Pauli.
On Aug. 10, the Championship resumes for them with an away match at Oxford United. There is also already a League Cup duel on Aug. 13 against Stevenage FC.