The opponent
Saturday afternoon Club will be the guest of KVC Westerlo. With coach Timmy Simons (47) it sees an old acquaintance back. The former captain of Blauw-Zwart played 439 matches for Club and 94 matches for the Red Devils, among others. After ending his active career at Club in 2018, he began his coaching career at Club as assistant coach to Ivan Leko and as youth coach. At Zulte Waregem, he spent 2 seasons as assistant coach and head coach. Last season he helped FCV Dender with promotion to the Jupiler Pro League and since this summer he is thus active in 't Kuipje.
KVC Westerlo could only win 2 of their last 7 home games (D3 L2). This season they won 3-0 at home against Cercle Brugge and 4-3 against Union, followed by a 1-1 draw against OH Leuven, a 1-2 defeat against Antwerp and a 2-2 draw against Beerschot.
KVC Westerlo could already hit 20 goals this season. Only KRC Genk and Antwerp (both 21) have scored more. They have already collected 35 yellow cards this season. That is the highest number of any club in Europe's top 10 competitions.
Luka Vušković, who scored 2 goals against Beerschot, is the second 17-year-old in Europe's top 10 competitions to already score 2 goals in 1 game this season after Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona). With 4 goals, the Croatian defender is top shooter at the Kemphans along with his compatriot Matija Frigan. Vušković plays for 1 year on loan from Hajduk Split and will play for Tottenham Hotspur FC starting next season. Lucas Stassin, who traded Westerlo for AS Saint Étienne at the end of August, is still the assist king at Westerlo (3).
Besides Stassin, the club also said goodbye to Nicolas Madsen, Ravil Tagir, Nacer Chadli, Kyan Vaesen and Pietro Perdichizzi, among others.
The club also reinforced with these players:
- Defenders: Luka Vušković, Emin Bayram, Emir Ortakaya and Rubin Seigers
- Midfielders: Alfie Devine and Muhammed Gümüşkaya
- Attackers: Julian Placias and Adedire Mebude
Sinan Bolat and Doğucan Haspolat have not been missing a minute on the pitch at KVC Westerlo this season.
Milestones
- Andreas Skov Olsen can play his 110th game for Club.
- Raphael Onyedika can finish his 70th league match for FCB.
- Brandon Mechele can play his 350th game in First Division. He made 18 appearances for STVV and it could be his 332nd match at Club Brugge.
- Casper Nielsen can play his 110th match in First Division against Union. The Danish midfielder played 39 matches in the JPL with Union and 70 for Club.
- Romeo Vermant can play his 30th game in First Division against his former club. He made 12 appearances for KVC Westerlo and 17 for Club.
Statistics
- First Class: 40 duels, 32 wins for Club, 6 draws and 2 defeats, 100 goals for and 29 against
- Cup: 3 duels, 3 wins, 0 draws and 0 defeats for Club, 13 goals for and 0 against
TOTAL: 43 duels, 35 wins, 6 draws, 2 defeats for Club, 113 goals for and 29 against
The referee
Nicolas Laforge was designated ref for this game. Laurent Conotte and Vito Di Vincenzo are the assistant refs and Anthony Letellier is the fourth official. Lothar D'Hondt takes his place behind the VAR screens, assisted by Romain Devillers and Jasper Vitse. The 37-year-old ref is whistling Club Brugge's 45th official match. On the move: 22M 9W 6D 7L.
Of KVC Westerlo, Laforge is leading their 17th official match. Home matches of that by KVC Westerlo: 8M 3W 3D 2L. Last season, Laforge led a duel between the two teams for the first time. Club won 3-0 at home then.
Earlier this season, Club's Laforge whistled the away match at KRC Genk (3-2) and the home match against KAA Gent (2-4). From KVC Westerlo, it is the first match this season with Laforge as ref.
