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Union - Club: Club Facts

Croky Cup

Cancel all your plans for tonight! We've got a cracker for you, as Club makes its way to Union in the second leg of the Belgian Cup Semis. Will a one goal advantage suffice for Club? 

The game

In what was a thrilling first leg performance, Club's double lead after goals by Skov Olsen and Ferran Jutglà was followed up with a Machida goal right before the buzzer. A slender one goal advantage, but an advantage nonetheless. 

A spot in the Cup final is at stake tonight. For Club it would be the 20th time the team heads for the King Baudouin Stadium. 

An unbeaten Cup run for Club so far: 

  • 0-6 against Beerschot in the Round of 32
  • 4-0 against Zulte Waregem in the Round of 16
  • 0-1 against KAA Gent in the Quarter Finals
  • 2-1 against Union in the Semis first leg

In three previous Cup encounters Club managed to earn a 2-1 home result. On all three occasions Club made it to the Final. 

Back from suspension is Igor Thiago; Skov Olsen is the only Club player who is set to miss out on the Final in case of a yellow card. 

Four goals on a spin for Ferran Jutlglà, scoring Club's 100th goal of the season against Anderlecht on the weekend. 55 of those were scored in the league, 32 in Europe, and 13 in the Cup.

The opponent

Final destination on the Road to the Final: Union. The team from Brussels is brimming with confidence, after a Conference League qualificaiton at the hands of Frankfurt, and yet another league win, this time against Standard de Liège. 

Union are top of the league in Belgium by  a fine margin. Eight points separate the team from runners-up Anderlecht. The defeat at Club in the first leg was their first defeat in 25 official games on Belgian turf. 

In five earlier home games against FCB, Union only won once, earlier this season in the league. 

So far, no Union player has made his way to the nets more than once in this Cup campaign. Top scorers are Fedde Leysen, Mathias Rasmussen, Loïc Lapoussin, Kevin Rodríguez and Koki Machida. Lapoussin and Sadiki both have two assists to their name. 

Milestones

  • Playing his former employer would mean Casper Nielsen features at Club's outfit for the 80th time. Earlier on, he played for Union in 100 games.
  • Both Hans Vanaken and Brandon Mechele are up for a 35th Cup appearance in Club attire, drawing level with Club defender Georges Leekens. Only eleven players have played more Cup games for Club than Leekens.

The Man in Black

Mr. Lothar D'Hondt has been appointed for this game, joined by his linesmen Mr. Romain Devillers and Mr. Nico Claes. Mr. Nathan Verboomen will be fourth official.

In chage of VAR will be Mr. Jonathan Lardot, assisted by Mr. Florian Lemaire and Mr. Jonas Timmermans.

For Mr. D'Hondt this will be the 19th time he's in charge of an official Club Brugge game. In ten previous away games, Club won six times, drew three times and lost once.

This season, Mr. D'Hondt handled the whistle in Club games away at KAS Eupen (0-5) and in the Cup against SV Zulte Waregem (4-0).

The 29 year old has had 21 games involving Union so far. In ten earlier home games, Union won four, drew three and lost three times.

Earlier this season, he was in charge of the home game against KAS Eupen (4-1) and the away game at KAA Gent (1-1), and the home Cup game against RSC Anderlecht (2-1).