Club - KVO: The Club Facts

THE MATCH

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It is the 28th confrontation between the two clubs in First Division. The 13 previous home matches against the Coastal Boys end on 11 wins (last time 2-0 on 22/11/2019), 1 draw (2-2 on 22/05/2016) and 1 defeat (2-3 on 28/08/1994). Club is 11 home matches in a row unbeaten against KV Oostende. In all home matches so far against KVO, Club was able to score each time.

Philippe Clement's team won the out-match in Ostend 1-3. Mats Rits gave Club the lead on the half hour in the Diaz Arena, but 6 minutes later Makhtar Gueye equalized for the home team. It was a wait until 8 minutes before the end when Krépin Diatta scored the 1-2. His compatriot Youssouph Badji added another goalt.

THE OPPONENT

KVO is in a handsome 5th place with 32 points after 21 playing days. It started 2021 with a nice 7 out of 9 after 3 home games against Sporting Charleroi (3-2), Eupen (1-1) and KV Kortrijk (2-1). However, it is only the 13th best away team in the Jupiler Pro League with 11 out of 30. Oostende went on to win at KV Mechelen (0-1), Cercle Brugge (0-1) and OHL (1-2), played equal at STVV (0-0) and KRC Genk (2-2) and lost at Sporting Charleroi (1-0), Standard (1-0), Waasland-Beveren (2-0), KV Kortrijk (3-1) and Anderlecht (2-1).

Last weekend, Oostende missed several players due to a corona outbreak. Among others, ex-Club players Guillaume Hubert and Brecht Capon were missing. Player to keep an eye on is Fashion Sakala. The Zambian has already scored eight goals and provided two assists. Andrew Hjulsager is the assist king at KVO with 7 assists. With Club and KVO, the 2 clubs face each other with the fewest (27) and most (52) yellow cards in the JPL.

KV Oostende has on average the 4th youngest starting eleven in First Division (24.6 years). Only Anderlecht (23.4), Cercle Brugge (24.4) and Waasland-Beveren (24.5) have younger average starting squads.

MIJLPALEN

Krépin Diatta is still top shooter with 9 goals. Ruud Vormer has joined Hans Vanaken as an assist king. Both put 6 times a teammate on the way to a goal. Simon Mignolet kept the zero for the 10th time this season in the Jupiler Pro League. The Limburg goalkeeper kept his nets dry 26 times in 47 league matches at Club Brugge (55.3%).

With Youssouph Badji, Charles De Ketelaere and Odilon Kossounou, Club has 3 goal scorers born in the 21st century, more than any other team in the Jupiler Pro League. KV Oostende is also the club against which Charles De Ketelaere made his league debut 425 days ago. With 43 goals scored and 13 goals conceded, Club is also the primus of First Division.

Simon Mignolet may be between the posts for the 70th time at Club. Youngsters Youssouph Badji and Noa Lang can play their 20th game at Blauw-Zwart.

THE REFEREE

Wim Smet was appointed ref for the game between Club and KVO. The 38-year-old ref is whistling an official match of Blauw-Zwart for the 18th time. Club's 14 previous home matches with Smet as ref ended in 12 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. Smet has already refereed 29 times an official match of KVO at the highest level. Of 11 away matches of the Coast Boys with him as ref, they won 2 times, drew once and lost 8 times. It has been more than 1.5 years since Club once again had Wim Smet as ref. Of KVO, Smet whistled this season's away match at Waasland-Beveren (2-0 loss).

2 times before, Smet led a duel between the two clubs. 2 times Club then drew the longest straw:
-> 30/11/2013 | JPL | Club Brugge KV - KV Oostende 2 - 0
-> 26/04/2017 | PO1 | Club Brugge KV - KV Oostende 3 - 1

OTHER MATCHES THIS MATCHDAY

di 19/01 18:45 R. Excel Mouscron - KV RS Waasland-SK Beveren
Tue 19/01 21:00 RSC Anderlecht - Sp. du Pays de Charleroi
Wed 20/01 16:30 KV Kortrijk - K. Sint-Truidense VV
Wed 20/01 18:45 KAS Eupen - K. Beerschot AC
Wed 20/01 18:45 YR KV Mechelen - R. Standard de Liège
Wed 20/01 21:00 R. Antwerp FC - Cercle Brugge KSV
Thu 21/01 18:45 SV Zulte Waregem - Oud-Heverlee Leuven
Thu 21/01 21:00 KRC Genk - KAA Gent