Sunday we have another top match at Jan Breydel. After the fantastic evening against Sporting, we will now host league leaders KRC Genk. Here's what you need to know about that fixture.
The Match
Tomorrow, Club Brugge will host league leader KRC Genk at Jan Breydel. Last Tuesday, Club already recorded its third Champions League victory against Sporting CP at Jan Breydel.
Now we have another top game - this time against Genk. It is already the 88th meeting in the Belgian first division between Club and Racing. The past 43 home matches ended in 26 wins (last time 4-0 on 24/04/2024), 8 draws (last time 1-1 on 28/09/2023) and 9 defeats (last time 1-3 on 28/05/2023).
If Club Brugge (OH Leuven) and KRC Genk (STVV) can beat their opponents in the quarter-finals of the Croky Cup, 2 exciting duels between the clubs await again in the semi-finals. In the past 10 years, Club lost only twice in 16 duels at home to KRC Genk (10W 4D).
The last time KRC Genk were guests at Jan Breydel, Club Brugge were able to record a big 4-0 victory in the playoffs. Ferran Jutglà gave us an early lead, after half-time Michal Skoras, Igor Thiago and Maxim De Cuyper added more goals to our win. It was the first time in 10 home matches against KRC Genk that Club was able to keep a clean sheet.
Earlier this season, Club lost to the Genkies for the first time in 5 duels. After an hour of play in the Cegeka Arena, things were still looking good for Blauw-Zwart: thanks to 2 goals by Andreas Skov Olsen, Club was in a double lead. But a penalty kick by Jarne Steucker heralded a turnaround for the home team. Tolu Arokodare equalized and in the added time Patrik Hrošovský kept the three points home for his side.
Club returned from Genk without any points and could not win the Super Cup and the first three league matches. Club was already 8 points behind then leader KVC Westerlo after three fixtures.
4 months later, Blauw-Zwart is on a better path with an excellent European campaign, being in the Croky Cup quarter-finals and - provided a win - just one point behind Genk. Club is doing well being unbeaten in 11 official games across all competitions (9W 2D).
In 2024, Club Brugge won the most home games in the Jupiler Pro League (22) followed by KRC Genk and KV Mechelen (both 19).
With Club and Racing, the best scoring teams face each other. Both teams have already scored 36 goals in 17 matches. Wingers Christos Tzolis and Andreas Skov Olsen are still Club's top shooters with 6 goals. Hans Vanaken provided the most assists (5).
Joël Ordóñez was able to score his first Club goal against KV Mechelen at the death of the game. This season, 14 different players have already been able to score for Club Brugge in the Jupiler Pro League. Only KAA Gent has more different goal scorers (15).
For Maxim De Cuyper, KRC Genk is a favorite opponent. He could already be decisive against them 4 times (2 goals and 2 assists). He has also been decisive four times against STVV and Union.
The opponent
Next Sunday afternoon KRC Genk will be our guest at Jan Breydel. KRC Genk is the proud leader of the Jupiler Pro League. After 17 fixtures it has collected 38 points, 4 more than first pursuer Club Brugge. Genk has been leading the pack for eleven matchdays.
Coach Thorsten Fink can look back on a successful half of the season. Fink (57) is, after Felice Mazzu (58), the oldest coach in the Belgium's top tier.
Genk is the second best away team in the JPL (13 out of 24). Only Club does even better in away games (17 out of 27). Still, it is remarkable that Genk has a negative goal difference on the road, with 16 goals conceded in 8 matches.
The Genkies were able to win 4 times on the road (3-4 at Beerschot, 2-3 at Cercle, 0-2 at RSC Anderlecht and 0-2 at KAA Gent). Furthermore, it played a draw at STVV (2-2) and lost to OH Leuven (3-1), KV Kortrijk (2-1) and Union (4-0).
With Tolu Arokodare, the club has the top shooter in its own ranks. Together with Adriano Bertaccini (STVV) and Kasper Dolberg (RSCA), the Nigerian striker already scored 10 times. Yira Sor has provided four assists.
After the first match against Club Brugge, KRC Genk said goodbye to Bilal El Khannouss, Mátias Galarza, Mark McKenzie and Andi Zeqiri.
Match winner of that game was Slovak midfielder Patrik Hrošovský who's been doing really well this season with six goals so far. He is already doing better than in the previous 5 seasons for the Genkies.
Milestones
Brandon Mechele can play his 460th official match for Club Brugge.
Hugo Vetlesen may play his 75th match for Club.
For Joaquin Seys, it could be the 25th match.
Casper Nielsen may play his 75th league match for Club Brugge.
Romeo Vermant may be in action in a Club Brugge JPL match for the 25th time.
For Chemsdine Talbi, it could be his 20th league match for Club.
Gustaf Nilsson can play his 10th league game for BLauw-Zwart and his 75th in First Division (65 for Union).
Hans Vanaken can play his 430th match in First Division (76 for Sporting Lokeren and 353 for Club Brugge).
Simon Mignolet may be between the posts for the 260th time in the Jupiler Pro League (66 for STVV and 193 for Club).
First Division: 87 duels, 40 wins for Club, 17 draws and 30 defeats, 146 goals for and 116 against
Cup: 2 duels, 1 draw (won after penalties), 1 defeat for Club, 3 goals for and 7 against
Supercup: 3 draws, 3 wins for Club, 7 goals for and 3 against
TOTAL: 92 duels, 43 wins for Club, 18 draws and 31 defeats, 156 goals for and 126 against
The referee
Jasper Vergoote was appointed referee for the topper. Michael Geerolf and Martijn Tiesters are the assistant refs and Arthur Denil is the fourth official. The VAR on duty is Erik Lambrechts, assisted by Koen Thijs and Roel Bensch.
The 32-year-old referee is leading an official Club Brugge match for the 17th time. 6 previous home matches of Club under his watch ended in 4 wins and 2 draws. For KRC Genk, he whistled 12 matches, 3 of which were away from home (1D 2L).
Last season Vergoote led the duel in the regular league in Genk (0-3).
This season, Club's Vergoote has already whistled 3 matches, each time at Jan Breydel, against Cercle (3-0), Anderlecht (2-1) and STVV (7-0).