CLUB - MECHELEN: THE CLUB FACTS

After an intense summer and strong preparations, the time has finally come: the start of a new Jupiler Pro League season! Club Brugge kicks off the league with a home match against KV Mechelen. This confrontation looks familiar to us, as this match was also the opening game of the season for Blauw-Zwart last season. Find out everything you need to know about this duel with the Club Facts!

THE MATCH

Club Brugge begins its hunt for its 20th national title with a home match against KV Mechelen. This was also the poster of the first match of the season for Club Brugge last season. Then the encounter against KV Mechelen ended in a 1-1 draw. Rob Schoofs opened the scoring for the visitors with a free kick, while Igor Thiago provided the equalizer with a penalty. Despite the efforts of Club, which had to continue with 10 after red for De Cuyper, the match ended in a draw.

The return game at the AFAS Stadium also ended in a draw: it was 0-0. However, Club Brugge remains a strong opponent for KV Mechelen at home. Blauw-Zwart is already 11 games in a row unbeaten against the Kakkers on home soil (7 wins, 4 draws). The last home defeat against KV Mechelen dates back to 2012, when it was 0-1.

New faces at Club Brugge in the Jupiler Pro League are Zaid Romero, Christos Tzolis, Gustaf Nilsson, Amine Et Taïbi and Joaquin Seys, who all played in the Super Cup against Union. Possibly newcomers Ardon Jashari and Hugo Siquet will also make their debuts for Blauw-Zwart on Friday night. Christos Tzolis is already the 58th player to score in his first game for Club Brugge since promotion to the First Division in 1959. Last season, the Greek striker became top shooter in the 2. Bundesliga with Fortuna Düsseldorf with 22 goals.

Club Brugge lost the opening match of the season only once as reigning champions: a 0-1 defeat against Sporting Charleroi in August 2020. The match against KV Mechelen is the 119th encounter in the Belgian First Division, in which Club Brugge won 41 times, drew 10 times and lost eight times in the previous 59 home matches.

THE OPPONENT

KV Mechelen, led by Besnik Hasi, is starting its 76th season in the Belgian First Division. After the dismissal of Steven Defour last November, Hasi led the team to a handsome 8th place finish. Hasi is the third-oldest coach in the Jupiler Pro League.

KV Mechelen has seen quite a few players leave this summer, including Ngal'ayel Mukau to Lille OSC and Munashe Garananga to FC Copenhagen. In addition, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck, David Bates and Boli Bolingoli also left. However, the club has attracted new acquisitions, including 20-year-old flank attacker Petter Nosa Dahl from FK Bodø/Glimt and defender José Marsà from FC Andorra. Aziz Ouattara, Zinho Vanheusden and Jules Van Cleemput are recent reinforcements, but will miss the game at Jan Breydel.

KV Mechelen had a strong preparation with 6 practice matches, winning against Oudenaarde, Beerschot and Heist, getting a draw against Lille OSC and losing against Antwerp and Olympiacos. In their last 10 regular league games, KV Mechelen lost only once.

MECHEL

- Ferran Jutglà can play his 70th league game for Club Brugge.

- Antonio Nusa can be in action for the 60th time in the Jupiler Pro League.

- Philip Zinckernagel can play his 30th league match for Club.

- Brandon Mechele can play his 340th match in the First Division, 321 for Club and 18 for STVV).

THE REFEREE

The match will be in the hands of referee Erik Lambrechts. He is assisted by linesmen Florian Lemaire and Gianni Seeldraeyers, and the fourth official is Wim Smet. The VAR for this match is Lawrence Visser, assisted by Romain Devillers.

It is already the 40th time the 39-year-old Lambrechts has led a Club Brugge match. Of the previous 23 home matches under his direction, 18 ended in victory, 2 in a draw and 3 in defeat. It is the first time Lambrechts has led a duel between Club Brugge and KV Mechelen.