Club - KV Mechelen: the Club Facts

Tonight Club plays for the tenth game day of the Jupiler Pro League against KV Mechelen. You can prepare optimally for the home match thanks to the Club Facts!

Unibet - Number 1 in responsible play (+18).

THE MATCH

It is the 115th duel between the two clubs in First Division. The 57 previous home matches ended successfully for Club 40 times (last time 2-0 on 10/04/2022). Nine times there was a draw (last time 2-2 on 31/10/2020) and eight times Blauw-Zwart lost (last time 0-1 on 21/01/2012).

Last season, both clubs won their home match against each other. Behind the Barracks, Malinwa turned a deficit (through Bas Dost) into a win through Hugo Cuypers and Rob Schoofs (2-1). At home Blauw-Zwart did manage to win thanks to goals by Mats Rits and Andreas Skov Olsen (2-0). Club Brugge is already unbeaten at home for 11 matches in a row in the Jupiler Pro League.

THE OPPONENT

After four seasons, Wouter Vrancken said goodbye as coach at KV Mechelen this summer. The club found Danny Buijs as a successor. The 40-year-old Dutchman was looking for his first foreign challenge after four seasons with FC Groningen. It was also he who granted Club player Bjorn Meijer his debut in the Eredivisie at the age of 18 in May 2021. KV Mechelen is in 12th place in the league after nine playing days.

In 4 away games, the club achieved a 4 out of 12. It was able to win at KV Kortrijk (1-4), played equal against Cercle Brugge (0-0) and lost at KV Oostende (2-1) and STVV (3-1).

Midfielders Geoffry Hairemans and Rob Schoofs are the players to keep an eye on for the Brugge defense. With 4 goals and 2 assists, they are the top shooters and assist kings of yellow-red.

Malinwa reinforced themselves this summer with 3 players with a past at Club Brugge: midfielder Birger Verstraete was borrowed from Royal Antwerp, defender Boli Bolingoli came over from Celtic FC and striker Julien Ngoy came from KAS Eupen. In addition, the club also acquired these players:

Defenders: Dimitri Lavalée [FSV Mainz (Ger)], Toon Raemaekers [OHL] and David Bates (Sco) [Aberdeen (Sco)].

Midfielders: Jorge Hernandez (Usa/Mex) [Chornomorets Odesa (Ukr)] and Alessio Da Cruz (Cpv) [Parma Calcio (Ita)].

Attackers: Yonas Malede (Isr) [KAA Gent] and Ilyas Lefrancq (Mar/Bel) [OHL].

MILEPALS

Kamal Sowah and Andreas Skov Olsen can play their 30th match for Club Brugge. For the Dane, it could also be his 25th league match. Antonio Nusa can be in action for the 10th time for Blauw-Zwart. For Eduard Sobol, it could be the 90th league match at FCB.

Both Cisse Sandra, Ferran Jutglà and Casper Nielsen can play their 10th league match for Club. Simon Mignolet can play his 180th match in First Division. For Roman Yaremchuk, it could be his 125th match in the Jupiler Pro League.

REFEREE

Kevin Van Damme was appointed ref for Club's first match after the international break. The linesmen for this match are Nico Claes and Lennert Jans. The fourth official is Kevin Debeuckelaere. In Tubize, Nathan Verboomen will take his place behind the scenes, assisted by Mathias Hillaert and Glenn Claes.

It will be the 32-year-old referee's 6th time whistling a Club Brugge match. For KV Mechelen, it is his 8th game as ref. Club's previous three home matches under his direction had varying success: 1 win, 1 defeat and 1 draw. Van Damme never before whistled a duel between these clubs. Also, it is his first match of both teams this season.