Club - Mechelen: the Club Facts

It is time. After an intense summer we finally start a new Jupiler Pro League season! Just like last year Blauw-Zwart opens the season with a home game against KV Mechelen. Learn more about this fixture with our Club Facts.

THE GAME

Club Brugge begins its hunt for a 20th national title with a home match against KV Mechelen. This was also last year's opening fixture, which ended in a share of the spoils after two set piece goals. Rob Schoofs curled in a free-kick for the visitors, Thiago equalised from the spot. Despite Club's efforts after the equaliser, the game ended in a draw, partly due to Maxim De Cuyper being red-carded.

The game at the AFAS Stadium ended in a draw as well: 0-0. Club has a fairly good home record against De Kakkers. Blauw-Zwart is undefeated in the last eleven home games with 7 wins and 4 draws. The last home defeat against KV Mechelen dates back to 2012 when the visitors bagged three points with a 0-1 win.

There's a few new faces at Club who can get minutes in the Jupiler Pro League: Zaid Romero, Christos Tzolis, Gustaf Nilsson, Amine Et Taïbi and Joaquin Seys. All played in the Super Cup against Union. Possibly Ardon Jashari and Hugo Siquet can make their debut for Blauw-Zwart as well. Christos Tzolis is the 58th player who scored in his first fixture for Club Brugge since our promotion to the first division in 1959. Last season the Greek winger registered 22 goals and was the top striker in the 2nd Bundesliga with Fortuna Düsseldorf

Club Brugge lost the opening fixture of a season once as the reigning champion. In August 2020 Charleroi beat Club 0-1.

The match against KV Mechelen is the 119th encounter between the two sides in the Belgian top flight. Club came out on top 41 times, drew level 10 times and lost 8 game in the previous 59 home fixtures.

THE OPPONENT

KV Mechelen, with Besnik Hasi at the helm, start their 76th season in the Belgian first division. After Steven Defour's dismissal in November last year, Hasi led the team to an 8th place in the league. Hasi is the third oldest coach in the league.

Quite a number of players left Mechelen this summer, like Ngal'ayel Mukau (Lille OSC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Alec Van Hoorenbeeck (back to FC Twente), David Bates and Boli Bolingoli (both to Standard de Liège). The club also welcomed a handful of players: 20-year-old winger Petter Nosa Dahl joined from FK Bodø/Glimt and defender José Marsà was signed up from FC Andorra. Aziz Ouattara, Zinho Vanheusden and Jules Van Cleemput were recently added to the squad, but they are not yet eligable to play on Friday.

KV Mechelen can look back on a good summer preperation with six friendlies. They won against Oudenaarde, Beerschot and Heist, drew level with Lille OSC and lost to Antwerp and Olympiacos. In their last ten league fixtures of last season they only lost once.

MILESTONES

- Ferran Jutglà can play his 70th league game for Club Brugge.

- Antonio Nusa can play his 60th game in the Jupiler Pro League.

- Philip Zinckernagel can play his 30th league match for Club.

- Brandon Mechele can play his 340th match in the Belgian first division. He played 321 for Club and 18 for STVV.

THE MAN IN BLACK

Erik Lambrechts has been appointed referee for this fixture. He will be assisted by Florian Lemaire and Gianni Seeldraeyers. Wim Smet is the fourth official. Lawrence Visser is the video assistant referee, joined by Romain Devillers as assistant.

It'll be the 40th time for the 39-year-old to whistle a Club Brugge game. Club won 18 of the previous 23 home games with Lambrechts as referee. Two games ended in a draw, three in a defeat. It's the first time for Lambrechts to officiate a game between Club and Mechelen.