Tonight the first home match of 2026 is scheduled. At 8:45 p.m. Club hosts promotionist RAAL La Louvière at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Read all about the match, the opponent, the various (possible) milestones and the referee below.
THE MATCH.
RAAL La Louvière, founded in 2017, is descending on Bruges for the first time. Although, when including the statistics of the former RAA Louviéroise, this will be the 20th meeting in First Division between the two teams. Club's previous nine home duels against the Hainaut side yielded eight wins, with the most recent on November 19, 2005 (4-0), and one draw on August 23, 2003 (3-3).
In the four most recent home games, Club kept three nil and scored a total of 12 goals. Earlier this season Club lost 1-0 at the new Easi Arena, where the home team took the lead in the 24th minute through Wagane Faye on a corner kick and a late penalty kick by Christos Tzolis went unused, marking the first ever defeat against La Louvière. On Friday, Club will try to wash away the disappointment of the cup elimination in Charleroi and beat the Hainauts, which would mark a fourth consecutive league win under coach Ivan Leko.
After 66% of the regular league, Club is second, one point behind Union SG and can become the sole leader for at least 24 hours with a win, before Union hosts KV Mechelen on Saturday night. Christos Tzolis, with seven goals and nine assists, is Club's top shooter and assist giver in the Jupiler Pro League and, with 16 goals involved, is six more productive than the closest pursuers. The sickbay continues to lighten, as Ludovit Reis made his comeback at Charleroi after 100 days and Nordin Jackers may reappear under the crossbar after 51 days. In addition, 16-year-old Slovenian midfielder Tian Nai Koren could possibly make his debut, while Brandon Mechele could reach his 400th game in First Division when his matches at Club Brugge and STVV are added together. In 2025, he played all 63 matches for Club.
THE OPPONENT
RAAL La Louvière hosts Brugge on Friday for the first Jupiler Pro League match of 2026 and is in 14th place with 20 points after 20 playing days. Last season, the club promoted as number two from the Challenger Pro League and started the current season with some striking results: it remained unbeaten at home against Union SG (0-0) and Club (1-0) and took a point on the field of KRC Genk (1-1). Afterwards, however, a lesser series followed, with only one victory in the last 12 league matches, a 2-1 home win against Cercle Brugge. On the road, coach Frédéric Taquin's team achieved 7 out of 30, the lowest total of any team, with an away win at OH Leuven, ties against FCV Dender, Genk, Charleroi and Zulte Waregem and defeats on the fields of Gent, STVV, KV Mechelen, Antwerp and Westerlo.
In the Croky Cup, La Louvière reached the quarterfinals but was eliminated Tuesday at Antwerp 2-1 after extensions, despite a goal by Pape Moussa Fall that had provided the equalizer. Fall, a 21-year-old Senegalese striker leased from FC Metz, is the team's top shooter with three goals, while nine different players provided one assist each. Goalkeeper Marcos Peano and defender Djibril Lamego are among the 11 players who have not yet missed a minute in the league. The selection has to do without the injured Mouhamed Belkheir, Théo Epailly and Wagane Faye and in the winter mercato, midfielder Lucas Bretelle left for France's Le Mans FC after only one appearance for the club.
THE MILEERS
- Jorne Spileers may play his 90th game for Club.
- It could be the 50th game for Hugo Siquet at Club.
- Cisse Sandra is awaiting his 40th match for Blue-Black.
- For Carlos Forbs, it may be the 30th match at Club.
- Dani Van den Heuvel may be between the posts for the 10th time at FCB.
- Aleksandar Stanković can play his 20th league match.
- Brandon Mechele can play his 400th game in First Division (381 for Club, 18 for STVV).
THE REFEREE
The match will be led by 29-year-old East Flanders referee Simon Bourdeaud'hui, who has officiated at the highest Belgian level since 2023. He will be assisted by linesmen Michele Seeldraeyers and Jonas Van Dyck, fourth official Ruben Calluy and VAR Quentin Pirard, assisted by Nicolas Maszowez and Christophe Snoeck. The duel with La Louvière is his sixth match at Club, whose two previous home duels under his direction ended in one win and one draw. Moreover, this season he already whistled Club's home game against Sporting Charleroi, which Blue-Black won 1-0.