Club - Standard: the Club Facts

THE MATCH

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It is the 184th editite of this duel in First Division. Club's 91 previous home matches against the Rouches ended in 47 wins (last time 4-0 on 08/04/2019), 23 draws (last time 1-1 on 27/10/2019) and 21 defeats (last time 0-2 on 01/04/2013). Blue-Black is already 11 home matches in a row unbeaten against Liège. This is the longest unbeaten home series in Club history against Standard. In the past 9 home matches against the Rouches, Club was able to score each time.

In the last 4 league matches between the two teams Club could not triumph (3 draws and 1 defeat). Also earlier this season, the game in Liege ended in a 1-1 draw. Krépin Diatta was able to give the visitors the lead just before half-time. On the hour, Standard had an excellent opportunity to equalize from the spot. But Simon Mingolet cleverly stopped Maxime Lestienne's penalty. In the added time, Standard still managed to equalize. Once again, they were allowed to kick from the spot and this time Nicolas Gavory did not miss the opportunity.

If Club can beat the Rouches, Club can book 4 home victories in a row for the first time this season. After the win against Cercle, Club maintains a 12 point margin over its first pursuer KRC Genk. The Rouches are currently in 4th place at 16 points from Club. Krépin Diatta remains Club's top marksman with 10 goals, but Noa Lang added another goaltime to his chase (8 goals). Ruud Vormer remains Club's assist king with 8.

Club is the best scoring team in First Division with 50 goals. With Club (17 goals against) and Standard (26 goals against), the 2 teams with the best defense face each other. Club also won all 7 matches in the league's final round and scored at least 2 goals each time. In the ranking based on the return round, the Rouches are 3rd with 13 out of 21, ahead of only Club (21/21) and KV Mechelen (15/21).

Noa Lang must avoid a yellow card to avoid missing the away match at Waasland-Beveren. With Clinton Mata and Arnaud Bodart, the 2 First Division players face each other who are on their longest run of matches without a break. Bodart has played 56 consecutive matches between the posts and Mata 43 consecutive matches.

THE OPPONENT

In the outward match, Frenchman Philippe Montanier was still at the helm of Standard. But after a run of 8 matches without a win and European elimination, he was sacked. Mbaye Leye, who hung up his soccer boots in 2019, was already an assist coach at the Fiery City last season. So just before the turn of the year, he now got a chance as head coach at Standard. As a player, Leye always used to be a scourge for the Bruges defense. He scored as many as 13 times in his career against Blauw-Zwart. Only Paul Van Himst, Erwin Vandenbergh and Alfred Rield (all three 14 goals) hit more goals against Club Brugge.

Under the Senegalese, Standard posted a 13 out of 15. He started with 4 wins, but last Thursday the Rouches did not get beyond a 2-2 draw at Ostend. Thanks to Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Merveille Bokadi, Standard was able to erase 2 leads from the Coastal Boys. Standard booked exactly 50% of the points on the move with 18 out of 36. The people from Liège won on the field from Waasland-Beveren (1-2), Beerschot VA (0-3), Sporting Charleroi (1-2), Cercle Brugge (0-1) and KV Mechelen (0-4), played equal at Antwerp (1-1), Anderlecht (0-0) and KV Oostende (2-2) and lost at OHL (1-0), STVV (2-0), AA Gent (2-1) and KV Kortrijk (2-1).

This winter, Standard said goodbye to striker Felipe Avenatti (Royal Antwerp). In exchange, Brazilian striker João Klauss came to strengthen. He came over on a rental basis from German TSG Hoffenheim. Last season he already played 2 times against Club Brugge in the UCL preliminary round. The 23-year-old attacker then played for LASK. In the return match at Jan Breydel, he scored the equalizer from the spot in the match that ended 2-1.

Standard did not lose any of their last 5 league matches (4 wins and 1 draw). Their youth product Hugo Siquet created 3.5 chances per 90 minutes this Jupiler Pro League season, more than any other player with at least 90 playing minutes. The Standard back is also the youngest player with at least three assists this season (18 years and 206 days). On average, 6.04 Belgians start at Standard. Only at KV Mechelen do more Belgians start on average (6.54) Michel-Ange Balikwisha is the Rouches' top marksman. The 19-year-old striker has already scored six goals. The quartet of Collins Fai, Nicolas Gavory, Maxime Lestienne and Nicolas Raskin is assist king with 4 goals declared. Standard goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart is one of 4 players in the Jupiler Pro League who haven't missed a minute this season. The 22-year-old goalkeeper already kept the zero 7 times, leaving only Mignolet (10) ahead of him in the clean sheet standings.

MECHELE

Brandon Mechele had to wait more than 3 years for a new league goal against KRC Genk. Now he repeated that feat just 4 days later. It was his 11th goal for Club. Brandon Mechele is the 9th Club player to score on his birthday. Raoul Lambert and Bernard Verheecke were able to score as many as 3 times on their birthdays. Frank Farina celebrated 2 goals on his birthday. In addition, Gert Verheyen, Olivier De Cock, Milan Lesnjak, Boško Balaban and Björn Vleminckx also succeeded.

Noa Lang hit the mark again for Blauw-Zwart. With 8 goals and 5 assists, he was already involved in 13 goals in 16 league matches this season. It was the 50th goal for Club this season.
Bas Dost could not score for the 5th match in a row, but did give the first assist at Club. It was also his first assist for Odi Kossounou. It is already the 6th league match in a row that a Dutchman had a foot in a goal for Club.

Brandon Mechele can play his 260th match for Club Brugge. Furthermore, he can also play his 210th match in First Division. Éder Balanta can finish his 30th league match for Blauw-Zwart. Mats Rits can play his 260th match in First Division.

THE REFEREE

Nicolas Laforge was appointed ref for the classic. He will referee Club Brugge's 31st official match and Standard Liege's 28th. Club's 13 previous home matches with him as ref ended in 8 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Standard's 14 previous away matches with Laforge as referee resulted in 3 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats.

Laforge already conducted 5 times a duel between the two clubs:

27/08/2017 | JPL | Club Brugge KV - R. Standard de Liège 4 - 0
31/08/2018 | Cup 1/2 final | R. Standard de Liège - Club Brugge KV 4 - 1
22/04/2018 | PO1 | Club Brugge KV - R. Standard de Liège 4 - 4
08/04/2019 | PO1 | Club Brugge KV - R. Standard de Liège 4 - 0
17/10/2020 | JPL | R. Standard de Liège - Club Brugge KV 1 - 1

The 34-year-old Hainaut ref also whistled the outward match this season between the two teams (1-1). He also conducted the away match at Antwerp (0-2) for Club and the home matches against KRC Genk (0-0) and Excel Moeskroen (0-1) for Standard.

OTHER MATCHES THIS MATCHDAY

Fri 29/01 20:45 R. Antwerp FC - KV RS Waasland-SK Beveren
Sat 30/01 16:45 YR KV Mechelen - KRC Genk
Sat 30/01 18:30 KAS Eupen - R. Excel Mouscron
Sat 30/01 18:30 Oud-Heverlee Leuven - K. Beerschot VA
Sat 30/01 20:45 KV Kortrijk - Sp. du Pays de Charleroi
Sun 31/01 16:00 SV Zulte Waregem - KV Oostende
Sun 31/01 18:15 RSC Anderlecht - KAA Gent
Sun 31/01 20:45 K. Sint-Truidense VV - Cercle Brugge KSV

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