Club Brugge vs Sporting CP

Jan Breydel Stadion forms the backdrop for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League showdown between Club Brugge and Sporting CP.

Since a 3-1 defeat at AC Milan in this season’s Champions League matchday three, Club Brugge have hit the ground running, stringing together a ten-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W8, D2), including a 1-0 home victory against Aston Villa in the previous round. Furthermore, Nicky Hayen’s side maintained their grip on a top-two finish in the Jupiler Pro League with a dramatic 2-1 win against Mechelen at the weekend, bolstering their spirits ahead of this must-win clash. Indeed, the hosts sit narrowly among the qualification spots, boasting a three-point lead on the chasing pack. Goals have been at a premium for Club Brugge in this year’s Champions League, with ‘Blauw-Zwart’ only netting four goals in the opening five rounds, with the last two coming from the spot or an own goal. 

On the other hand, Ruben Amorim’s departure has left Sporting CP in tatters, as they’ve lost three consecutive games in all competitions since a 6-0 thrashing of lower-league Amarante in the domestic cup. Sporting’s longest losing run in over five years includes a 5-1 home thumping at the hands of Arsenal in the previous Champions League round, nullifying a memorable 4-1 rout of Manchester City. New manager Joao Pereira can ill-afford another disappointment in Belgium after losing ground on the automatic qualification spots. Belgium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for ‘Los Leoes’ by any stretch of the imagination, as they’ve gone winless on all six previous visits to the country (D3, L3).