Kortrijk - Club: the Club Facts

Blauw-Zwart makes the short trip to KV Kortrijk this afternoon. Do you want to know everything about the last match before the international break? Then read the Club Facts!

Unibet - Number 1 in responsible play (+18).

THE MATCH

It is the 68th confrontation in First Division between the two teams. After the 33 previous away duels, Club drew 16 times. 7 times it was a draw and 10 times the Fellows were victorious.

Club is already 5 duels unbeaten at the Guldensporenstadion (3W 2D). Before that there was a period in which Club could win only once in 10 away matches. If we look at the mutual duels, Blauw-Zwart is already 12 consecutive duels without defeat against KV Kortrijk (10W 2D). The last 5 mutual duels Club won all of them.

Also earlier this season Club kept the 3 points at home against KVK. Ferran Jutglà was able to open the score as early as the 4th minute. On the half hour, Pape Habib Gueye brought the score back into balance. Bjorn Meijer, with his first goal for Club, still managed to give his team a lead. Nothing changed after the break (2-1).

For the first time in 5 months, Club could have two league wins in a row, after the home victory against Standard. Club would then have to achieve their first away win in 4 matches.

Top marksman Hans Vanaken was joined again by Ferran Jutglà. Both players have already scored 9 goals in the Jupiler Pro League. Of all players under 25 in the Belgian league, only Ueda (Cercle, 13 goals) and Vanzeir (Union, 10 goals) scored more often than the Spaniard. Jutglà (5) is also assist king at Club.

Bjorn Meijer celebrates his 20th birthday today! The defender struck for the 3rd time already on Sunday in the Belgian highest league. At 19 years and 359 days, he was the youngest player in the Jupiler Pro League to score with a direct free kick since Karim Hafez (Lierse, 19 years and 36 days) in 2015. The Dutchman was already involved in 9 goals in all competitions (4 goals + 5 assists). We already have to go back to the 2015-16 season that a Club defender (Thomas Meunier) did even better (6 goals + 5 assists = 11).

With Abakar Sylla, Clinton Mata, Noa Lang, Hans Vanaken and Casper Nielsen, there are 5 players at risk of suspension for the move to KV Mechelen.

THE OPPONENT

KV Kortrijk hosts Club Brugge's 15th away match.

The club accumulated 27 points this season, their lowest points total of this century after 29 playing days in the league. After the defeat at KVC Westerlo (3-1) on the previous matchday, the club dropped to 15th place in the standings.

On its own ground, KVK took 13 out of 52. It managed to stunt against Antwerp (2-1) and KRC Genk (1-0) and also won against RFC Seraing (3-2). It played equal against STVV (0-0), Cercle Brugge (1-1), KV Oostende (2-2) and Anderlecht (2-2) and lost to OHL (0-2), Standard (0-1), KV Mechelen (1-4), Zulte Waregem (1-3), KVC Westerlo (0-2), KAA Gent (0-4) and Sporting Charleroi (0-1).

This winter, the club said goodbye to Amine Benchaib [CS Mioveni] and loaned out these players: Didier Lamkel Zé [Wydad AC], Marko Ilić [Colorado], Alexandre De Bruyn [FCV Dender EH] and Luqman Hakim [Njardvik].

It reinforced with:
- defenders Christalino Atemona [Hertha BSC] and Martin Wasinski [borrowed from Sporting Charleroi]
- attackers Martin Regali [Ruzemberok] and Nikolas Dyhr [borrowed from FC Midtjylland].

Faïz Selemani is the top shooter with 8 goals and assist king with 3 assists. He is most likely to miss this game after dropping out in the previous match with an injury.

There were already 3 coaches at the helm at the club this season. Karim Belhocine started on it. He was replaced by Adnan Čustović in early September. The Bosnian also did not get the club on the right track and in mid-November he was replaced by Bernd Storck. He was already able to knock Club once this season with his former team KAS Eupen. The first away match of the year was lost 2-1 to Club at the Kehrweg.

Already 10 different players could score for KV Kortrijk in this calendar year, the highest number in the Pro League (together with KRC Genk).

Veekaa defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe has already played 2,610 minutes this season, as many as Simon Mignolet and 4 other players. The Japanese is, however, the only fielder who has not missed a minute of those players.

MIGNILLET

Simon Mignolet can play his 200th match in First! He made 66 appearances for STVV and this weekend he can play his 134th league match for Club. Brandon Mechele in turn can play his 290th match in First (271 at Club and 18 at STVV).

Hans Vanaken can play his 380th match for Club Brugge.

Casper Nielsen can play his 40th official match at Blauw-Zwart. It may also be his 30th league match at Club.For Abakar Sylla, it may be the 25th match at Club.

Noa Lang can play his 90th match in the Jupiler Pro League. Roman Yaremchuk can play his 20th league match for Club.

THE REFEREE

Bram Van Driessche was designated ref for this West Flanders derby. He will be assisted on the field by linesmen Yves De Neve and Lennert Becquet and by fourth official Alexandre Boucaut.

The VAR on duty will be Bert Put. Michael Geerolf and Arne De Beuckelaer assist him in his duties.

The 37-year-old ref is whistling Blauw-Zwart's 22nd official match. Of de Veekaa, it is the 23rd official match under his charge.

Club's 12 previous away matches with Van Driessche as ref ended in 7 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. KVK's 11 previous home matches with him as ref resulted in 4 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats. Once before, Van Driessche whistled a game between the two clubs. In January 2020, it was a 2-2 draw at the Guldensporenstadion.

It is only Club's first match this season under his leadership. Of Kortrijk, he already led the home match against Antwerp (2-1).