Club - Union SG: Club Facts

Unibet – Nummer 1 in verantwoord spelen (+18)

THE GAME

Het is de 85e confrontatie in Eerste Klasse tussen beide teams. Club neemt het thuis voor de 41e keer op tegen Union. De vorige thuismatchen leverden 21 zeges (laatste keer 3-0 op 29/10/1972), 8 draws (laatste keer 0-0 op 27/01/2022) en 12 nederlagen (laatste keer 1-2 op 04/09/1960). Als Club niet verliest, is het 15 onderlinge duels op rij ongeslagen tegen Union. In de laatste 5 confrontaties konden Club-doelmannen Simon Mignolet en Luc Sanders telkens de nul houden.

It's the 85th confrontation in the first division between both teams. Club takes on Union at home for the 41st time. The previous home games resulted in 21 wins (last time 3-0 on 29/10/1972), 8 draws (last time 0-0 on 27/01/2022) and 12 defeats (last time 1-2 on 04/09/1960). If Club keeps at least one point home, it has been undefeated in 15 consecutive matches against Union. Club Brugge goalies Simon Mignolet and Luc Sanders kept a clean sheet in the last five fixtures against les Unionistes ... But there were 48 seasons without a game between the two sides.

• Only in 2019 (9 out of 9) Club Brugge started the play-offs better than this season (7 out of 9).
• Club Brugge are already 11 league matches unbeaten in a row (10W 1D).
• Club Brugge only failed to score in one of their last 22 home games in the Pro League ... in the league game against Union.
• Club has now 4 clean sheets in a row. That is the best result since November-December 2020 (then 5 in a row).

After the away win at Union, Club Brugge are mathematically sure of European football next season. It will be the 51st European campaign in the history of the blue and black. Which European ticket it will be, is still to be determined. The first place guarantees a seat in the UEFA Champions League group stage, the runner-up has to win preliminary rounds before reaching that group stage. Finishing as third would mean that Club has to play 2 preliminary rounds before reaching the UEFA Europa League Conference League.

Club's main scorer is still Charles De Ketelaere with 14 goals. Noa Lang is the assist king with 13 key passes. Club Brugge (3 out of 7) and Union (4 out of 10) are the two clubs with the fewest defeats after conceding the opening goal.

Coach Schreuder will have to do without two players who have gathered more than 3.000 minutes this season: Mats Rits is sidelined with an injury (3.241 minutes) and Stanley Nsoki sits out a one-match ban (3.073 minutes).

THE OPPONENT

Union moet voor het eerst sinds de 11e speeldag van de reguliere competitie een match spelen terwijl het niet meer aan de leiding staat. De laatste keer dat Union in Brugge te gast was, had het nog een voorsprong van 9 punten op Blauw-Zwart. Maar het team van coach Felice Mazzu kan zich optrekken aan het feit dat het de beste uitploeg is van de de competitie. In 18 uitmatchen kon het 14 keer winnen, 3 keer gelijk spelen (waaronder de match op Club) en slechts 1 keer verliezen. Maar met Club ontmoet het de beste thuisploeg van de competitie.

De nederlaag tegen Club was pas hun eerste verliespatij in 10 matchen in de Jupiler Pro League. De laatste nederlaag van Union in een uitmatch dateert al van de 5e speeldag in de reguliere competitie. Sindsdien zijn ze 15 uitmatchen op rij ongeslagen (W12 D3). Union is de enige van de 8 clubs in de 2 play-offs die dit seizoen nog geen enkel doelpunt scoorden waarin 10 of meer passes eindigden in een doelpunt. Dit duidt nog maar eens op hun directe spel.

For the first time since matchday 11 of the regular season, Union is not in the driver's seat. The last time Union visites Jan Breydel, they had a 9-point lead. However Felice Mazzu and his side can take heart from the fact that Union is the best away team in the league, having won 14 away games, drawing three (including at Brugge) and losing just the one. On the other hand, Club is the best home side of the league.

Union's defeat last Sunday was their first loss in 10 fixtures. Union's only defeat in an away game dates back to matchday 5 Since that game, they are unbeaten in 15 consecutive away matches (12W, 3D). Union is the only one of the eight clubs in the two Play-Off systems to have never scored a goal after ten or more passes. This is another indication of their direct way of playing football.

MILESTONES

Jack Hendry can play his 30th match for Club Brugge, for Clinton Mata it can be his 125th league game for the blue and black.

THE MAN IN BLACK 

Erik Lambrechts has been appointed referee for this fixture. Jo De Weirdt and Kevin Monteny are the assistants. The fourth official is Alexandre Boucaut. Lothar D'Hondt is the video assistant referee, assisted by Florian Lemaire and Mario Vanlommel.

ANDERE FIXTURES
Champions' Playoffs
thu 12/05 20:30 RSC Anderlecht - R. Antwerp FC

Europe's Playoffs
tu 10/05 18:45 YR KV Mechelen - KAA Gent
tu 10/05 21:00 KRC Genk - Sp. du Pays de Charleroi