40 games
And Brandon Mechele tops another list this season. The strongman in the heart of our defense played all 40 league matches this season, completing more than 99% of all playing time. Hans Vanaken (38 matches) and Maxim De Cuyper (37 matches) complete Bruges' top three this season.
1. Brandon Mechele: 40 matches (3,491 minutes)
2. Hans Vanaken: 38 matches (3,259 minutes)
3. Maxim De Cuyper: 37 matches (2,664 minutes)
4. Hugo Vetlesen: 37 matches (2,425 minutes)
5. Ferran Jutglà: 35 matches (1,673 minutes)
6. Igor Thiago: 34 matches (2,534 minutes)
7. Andreas Skov Olsen: 33 matches (2,300 minutes)
8. Simon Mignolet: 32 matches (2,730 minutes)
9. Casper Nielsen: 32 matches (1,445 minutes)
10. Raphael Onyedika: 30 matches (2,265 minutes)
11. Antonio Nusa: 30 matches (1,496 minutes)
12. Philip Zinckernagel: 29 matches (1,578 minutes)
13. Jorne Spileers: 29 matches (2,157 minutes)
14. Michał Skóraś: 28 matches (989 minutes)
15. Bjorn Meijer: 27 matches (1,862 minutes)
16. Denis Odoi: 24 matches (937 minutes).
17. Kyriani Sabbe: 21 matches (1,030 minutes)
18. Éder Balanta: 21 matches (597 minutes)
19. Joel Ordóñez: 19 matches (1,190 minutes)
20. Tajon Buchanan: 12 matches (833 minutes).
21. Nordin Jackers: 9 matches (800 minutes).
22. Dedryck Boyata: 5 matches (174 minutes)
23. Víctor Barberá: 4 matches (28 minutes)
24. Chemsdine Talbi: 3 matches (7 minutes)
25. Roman Yaremchuk: 3 matches (63 minutes)
26. Mats Rits: 2 matches (79 minutes)
27. Shion Homma: 2 matches (10 minutes).
28. Romeo Vermant: 1 match (9 minutes)
29. Bi Abdoul Kader Yameogo: 1 match (5 minutes)
83 goals
In 40 matches this season, Club hit no fewer than 83 goals in the league, an average of more than two goals per match. Top marksman Igor Thiago had the largest share (21, 18 goals and 3 assists). Skov Olsen (14 goals and 4 assists), Jutglà (8 goals and 6 assists), De Cuyper (3 goals and 10 assists), Zinckernagel (7 goals and 6 assists) and Vanaken (5 goals and 7 assists) also reached double figures.
Undefeated playoffs
FCB needed to set a series in these Champions' Play-Offs to still have a claim to the title. After a draw on game day 1 against Cercle, Blauw-Zwart came up to speed and won six consecutive games. Against Union we played a draw on matchday 8 and on the penultimate matchday we recorded a crucial win in and against Anderlecht. Against Cercle, Club closed out impressive playoffs with a draw. The final balance thus stands at 24/30. The draw also means a continuation of an unbeaten run. If you include last year's final Play-Off match, the fresher national champion is now already unbeaten 11 PO I matches in a row. No team ever did more punishingly.
It is also only the second time in our club history that we have gone through the playoffs undefeated. The previous time was in the championship year under Alfred Schreuder in 2022, when the playoffs were played with four teams.
New format in the Champions League
A national title also means that an eleventh Blue-Black Champions League campaign lies ahead. That Champions League will wear a different jacket, though.
Get rid of the group stage and from 32 to 36 teams. Club will not end up in a pool like the previous editions, but will be drawn against 8 unique opponents. Of those 8 opponents, 4 will be played at Jan Breydel, the other 4 will be played away. This phase is now called the 'league stage'.
The results of those eight duels will be examined in one big ranking with all 36 teams. The top 8 advance directly to the 1/8th finals, the number 9 to 24 play an intermediate round to get to that 1/8th final. Number 25-36 is immediately out of Europe, because from the "league stage" there is no more Europa League safety net. Club also "overwinters" in the Champions League anyway, as two more 'league stage' matches are scheduled after New Year.
