PLOEG NEWS
CLUB BRUGGE
Blauw-Zwart hosts Borussia Dortmund tonight on the third matchday of the Champions League. The Bruggelingen are taking part in the Champions League for the fourth time in five years and achieved 4 out of 6 after two playing days. So a great start, although last week against Lazio there was more in it than a draw (1-1). The Italians took an early lead through Correa, but Hans Vanaken scored the equalizer from the penalty spot just before half-time. Blauw-Zwart still created most of the goal danger in the second half but did not reward themselves, making the point tie a reality. Philippe Clement's team wants to get a good result against Dortmund again today, although it is well aware that this is not obvious. Two seasons ago, Club and Borussia Dortmund also met in the Champions League group stage. At Jan Breydel it was 0-1 after a late goal by Christian Pulisic, in Dortmund it remained 0-0.
The selection: Mignolet, Horvath, Shinton, Sobol, Kossounou, Ricca, Van Der Brempt, Mata, Mechele, Balanta, Schrijvers, Vanaken, Vormer, Rits, De Ketelaere, Van Den Keybus, Okereke, Diatta, Badji, Dennis, Krmenčík and Lang.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Last season, Borussia Dortmund finished second in the Bundesliga, qualifying directly for the Champions League group stage. In the past 10 seasons, the top German club has been a part of the Champions League no less than nine times, only in the 2015/16 season did they not participate. Last season, Dortmund finished second in Group F behind Barcelona and remained ahead of Inter Milan and Slavia Prague. In the 1/8th final, the Germans narrowly lost out over two matches against Paris Saint-Germain (2-1 at home, 2-0 away). In the Bundesliga, Lucien Favre's team is in a shared lead with Bayern Munich. Last weekend's smooth 0-2 win against Arminia Bielefeld saw Dortmund achieve a clean sheet for the fourth Bundesliga match in a row. Last week, the Borussen won convincingly 2-0 against Zenit on the second Champions League game day thanks to goals from Sancho and Haaland. The injured Mats Hummels did not travel with the team to Brugge.
REFEREE - DAMIR SKOMINA
Damir Skomina is in charge of the match between Club and Borussia Dortmund. The 44-year-old Slovenian will be assisted by his compatriots Jure Praprotnik and Tomaž Klančnik (assistant referees) and Dragoslav Perič (fourth official). Marco Guida and Fabio Maresca make up the VAR team.
IN THE WATCH
CLUB BRUGGE - BRANDON MECHELE
Brandon Mechele has grown to become a strongman in Bruges' defense in recent years. The 27-year-old Red Devil not only defends soberly and precisely, but also combines this with great perseverance. Mechele went through all youth series at Blauw-Zwart and made his official debut seven years ago during the PO1-match against Sporting Lokeren (2-1 win). Tonight the Breden native will face Thomas Meunier, with whom he played for a while in the Bruges defense.
