Mechelen - Club: The Club Facts

After the international break, Blauw-Zwart travels to the AFAS Stadium for the 31st matchday of the Jupiler Pro League. There, Club Brugge will take on KV Mechelen. Read all Club Facts for Sunday's match below!

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

The match

Club Brugge and KV Mechelen face each other for the 116th time in the Belgian First Division. Of the previous 57 away matches visiting the Mechelers, Club Brugge managed to win 23 times (last time 0-3 on 17/12/2020), played a draw 14 times (last time 3-3 on 11/08/2012) and lost 20 times (last time 2-1 on 19/11/2021).

The Maneblussers visited Jan Breydel earlier this season. Then Blauw-Zwart won 3-0 after goals by Jutglà, Sobol and Buchanan. Jorne Spileers also made his league debut for FCB in that match.

If Mignolet can keep his nets clean on Sunday, he can add a tenth clean sheet of the season to his name.

Coach Rik De Mil cannot call on Abakar Sylla against Mechelen. He picked up his fifth yellow card of the season before the international break and is therefore suspended. Clinton Mata, Noa Lang, Hans Vanaken and Casper Nielsen must avoid a yellow card if they do not want to miss the April 7 home match against Seraing.

The opponent

Malinwa is 13th in the standings with 36 points. Behind the Barracks, red-yellow gained 26 out of 45 and dropped points against OH Leuven (0-0), Zulte Waregem (2-2), Cercle Brugge (1-1), Charleroi (2-2), Genk (2-2), Antwerp (0-2), Seraing (2-3) and Anderlecht (1-3). The last time Mechelen suffered a defeat at home was on Oct. 9 against Anderlecht.

Malinwa's top shooter and assist king is Geoffry Hairemans. He already sits at 8 goals and 6 assists this season.

Milestones

- Denis Odoi could play his 50th official match for Club Brugge. It could also be his 250th match in first division. In the Jupiler Pro League, he has already played 38 times for Club Brugge, 69 times for STVV, 33 times for Anderlecht and 109 times for Sporting Lokeren.

- Mats Rits can play his 140th league match for FCB against his ex-club.

- Brandon Mechele can play his 290th match in first division (271 for Club, 18 for STVV).

- Casper Nielsen can play his 70th match in the Jupiler Pro League (39 for Union, 30 for Club).

- For Roman Yaremchuk, it could be his 25th match in the shirt of Blauw-Zwart.

Referee

Jasper Vergoote will officiate the game. He will be assisted by assistant referees Michael Geerolf and Martijn Tiesters and fourth official Wim Smet. Nicolas Laforge will assume the role of VAR and will be flanked by Quentin Lesceux and Jonas Timmermans.

For the 31-year-old Vergoote, it is the fifth time he will whistle a Blauw-Zwart match. From Malinwa, he has already refereed 15 previous matches. Never before has he refereed a mutual duel between Club Brugge and KV Mechelen.