KAA Gent - Club: Club Facts

It feels longer, but exactly three weeks after Club took on Union at Jan Breydel, the West-Flemish takes on the trip to Ghent to meet locals AA Gent at the occasion of the Croky Cup Round of Eight. Get in the know here!

The fixture

For the sixth time this century, Club is still in three competitions after the Winter break (league, Cup and Europe).

No team can outdo Club Brugge and KAA Gent when it comes to most games played at this point, both teams in their 35th fixture this season.

The cherry on top of a fruitful training week in Marbella came through a 3-0 friendly victory at the hands of German 1. FC Nürnberg.

No Raphael Onyedika or Denis Odoi in Club's line-up: they are dispupting Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria and Ghana.

Ever since the Cup was reformed in 1963, Club has made it to the Quarter Finals on 29 occasions. In those 28 earlier games, Club managed to go through 22 times (78,6%), and was ousted 6 times (21,4%).

On the road to the Round of Eight, Club went past two Challenger Pro League teams. The Round of 32 ended in Club's broadest Cup win to date at K. Beerschot VA (0-6), goals coming courtesy of Igor Thiago, Andreas Skov Olsen (2x), Denis Odoi and Hugo Vetlesen (2x). The Round of 16 brought SV Zulte Waregem to Jan Breydel, ending in a 4-0 win for the hosts, this ttime with goals by Andreas Skov Olsen and Igor Thiago.

With 11 Cup wins, Club Brugge is Belgium's record holder. The last win, however, dates back to 2015. The two teams have already faced each other twice this season. At the Ghelamco Arena, Hyun-seok Hong scored both Gent goals in a 2-1 win for Gent, after Hans Vanaken had equalised. At Jan Breydel, Club proved the better team, with Igor Thiago hammering in two spot kicks.

A goal for Hans Vanaken would be his tenth in the Croky Cup for Club Brugge. So far he has 9 assists to his name in the Cup too.

This campaign sees a prolific Andreas Skov Olsen, toppingg the table with four goals.

A draw after 90 minutes would take this game into prolongations and possibly penalty shootouts.

The winner of this fixture will be taking on the winner of the other Round of Eight game between R. Union St.-Gilloise and RSC Anderlecht.

The opponent

The KAA Gent Arena will be the venue for this encounter. Two thirds into the league, Hein Vanhaezebrouck's team is in third place, ten points lagging behind Union, but four more than Club Brugge.

Just like Club, KAA Gent headed for sunnier pastures in the winter. In Olivia, Spain, Rumanian CFR Cluj was sent off 2-1 in a friendly, both goals by 18 year old left winger Matoas Fernandez-Pardo.

Gent will not be able to call upon Tarik Tissoudali (Morrocco) and Núro Fortuna (Angola), both competing in the AFCON, nor upon Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Japan) and Hyun-seok Hong (South Korea), playing at the AFC Asia Cup.

One of KAA Gent's youth products and one of the stars of 2023 has made the move to Olympique Lyonnais during the Winter break.

With Paul Nardi still out for a long time due to a terrible injury, Gent decided to sign goalie Daniel Schmidt, hailing over from STVV on a transfer free deal. His Belgian debut back in 2019 was against Club Brugge.

A fourth consecutive Round of Eight for the Buffalos. Hurdles on their track were Patro Eisden (1-3), and STVV, Hugo Cuypers scoring the sole goal at Staaien.

With one goal each, Hugo Cuypers, Hyun-seok Hong, Sven Kums and Tarik Tissoudali all share the Cup top scorer's title.

Milestones

• Philip Zinckernagel is up for a 30th appearance at Club Brugge.
• The game might be the 25th fixutre for Dedryck Boyota in Club attire.
• Andreas Skov Olsen could be playing the 200th game in his professional career: FC Nordsjaelland (Den): 50, FC Bologna (Ita): 71, and Club Brugge KV: 78.

The man in black

The man handling the whistle tonight is Mr. Erik Lambrechts, backed by his linesmen Mr. Jo De Weirdt and Mr. Kevin Monteny. Fourth official will be Mr. Simon Bourdeaud'hui.

As of this round, VAR will also keep an eye out. In this game, Mr. Jasper Vergoote, assisted by Mr. Michael Geerolf and Mr. Istvan Lagaert will be in charge.

Mr. Lambrechts has been involved in 35 official games featuring Club so far. In 13 previous away games for Club, the team earned 6 wins, 6 defeats and a draw.

He has been in charge of 39 AA Gent games. In 17 home games, the track record is 9W 4D 4L.