Club - RSCA: the Club Facts

Sunday it's time for one of the games of the year, the topper at home against RSC Anderlecht. But also: the number three against the number two in the league. Get warmed up with the Club Facts!

The match

The match against Anderlecht falls on matchday 27, and so we are in the final straight towards the Play-Offs. Anderlecht counts 54 points, Club Brugge 45. With a win, we will approach to within six points.

It is the 184th time both teams have faced each other in the First Division. Of the last 91 home games, Club won 42 of them (last time 3-0 on 04/10/2020), 31 times it was a draw (last time 1-1 on 15/01/2023) and 18 times purple and white walked away with the points (last time 1-2 on 06/05/2018). So that also means that Club is already unbeaten at home for eight games in a row. Only twice before in Blue-Black history did Club remain unbeaten at home longer against RSCA (each time 10 home matches in a row between November 1981 and April 1990 and between September 1921 and February 1938).

Of the past 17 confrontations (both away and home), Club lost only once. In April 2021, it was 2-1 at Lotto Park. The away game against Anderlecht this season ended 1-1. Kasper Dolberg scored first for Purple White, but Skov Olsen later erased his compatriot's goal.

Igor Thiago will not be in the match against Anderlecht. The previous game against Cercle, Club's top shooter (16 goals) received a red after a double yellow card. Raphael Onyedika and Denis Odoi will have to watch out against Anderlecht, as they are on a yellow card from a suspension.

Maxim De Cuyper and Philip Zinckernagel already accounted for six assists, making them Club's best attackers.

Club and Anderlecht are the only teams still unbeaten at home. If Club continues that streak against the Brusselers, Club has not lost in 22 matches across all competitions.

The opponent

Anderlecht is thus the guest, and coach Brian Riemer's team can descend on Jan Breydel with confidence. For the first time in seven seasons, RSCA is in the top two after 26 playing days. This calendar year, they are still unbeaten in the Jupiler Pro League (3 wins, 3 draws), with 9/9 in the last three games.

The capitalists are also on a good away series, with seven consecutive games without defeat. For such a series, we already have to go back to November 2014, when RSCA was unbeaten eight away games in a row. On the road they gained 21 points this season, only Union is doing better with 30 points.

What stands out about Anderlecht is the experience on the field this season. After several years of playing the youth card, this season it is the turn of experienced players. The average age this season is 26.79. Only KV Mechelen has an average older squad between the lines.

Since the 2-0 defeat against Union on matchday 1, Anderlecht has been able to score every matchday in the JPL. Anders Dreyer has a big share in that statistic with 14 goals. Théo Leoni already gave seven assists.

Milestones

• For Hans Vanaken, it could be his 430th for Club, and his 400th game in the Jupiler Pro League (323 for Club and 76 for Lokeren. By the way, our captain did not play against any opponent more than Anderlecht (33 times), in which he already scored 13 times.
• Ferran Jutglà can play his 75th game for Club.
• Jorne Spileers is facing match number 50 at Blauw-Zwart.
• If Vetlesen gets fit, he could play his 25th league game for FCB. The same goes for Zinckernagel, on his reappearance he faces match 50 in our league (27 Standard, 22 Club).
• Against his ex-club, Denis Odoi can play his 270th game in the JPL (69 for STVV, 33 for RSCA, 109 for Lokeren and 58 for Club).

The referee

Erik Lambrechts is in charge of the game. Jo De Weirdt and Kevin Monterey assist him as linesmen, Wesli De Cremer is fourth official.

The VAR team in Tubize consists of Lawrence Visser, Ella De Vries and Istvan Lagaert.

It is the 37th time Lambrechts will lead an official Club Brugge match. He previously led 22 of Club's home matches (18W 2D 2L). Earlier in the league, he led the home match against Cercle (0-0) and the away match at Standard (2-1). In the cup there was the away match at KAA Gent (0-1).

For Purple-White, it is the 38th match under the 39-year-old ref's guidance. RSCA's previous 23 away matches with him as referee ended in twelve wins, three draws and eight defeats. This season he whistled for Anderlecht the home match against R.W.D.M. (2-1) and the away matches at Antwerp (1-1) and Sporting Charleroi (1-3).