Club - Molde: Club Facts

The return in the Round of 16 of the Conference League against Molde is imminent. At home, Club needs to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the outward game if it wants to advance against the Norwegians. Find out all about the match with the Club Facts!

The game

The stakes are high against Molde FK: a European quarterfinal. Getting this far on the European stage was ago from the 2014/15 season, when Club had to acknowledge its superiority to Ukrainian Dnipro at that stage. In history, Club has reached European quarterfinals eight times before. 

The outward match last week ended 2-1 in favor of the Norwegians. The home team was able to open the scoring just before halftime through Halldor Stenevik. In the 85th minute, Maxim De Cuyper was able to balance the boards again from the spot. But in the added time, the Norwegian Cup winner was still able to win after a goal by Fredik Gulbrandsen.

For Club, the home game will be its 357th game in Europe, Molde sits at 139 European games. Club did that spread over 52 European campaigns, for the Norwegians the tally stands at 21 campaigns in Europe. The crucial encounter is already the 47th confrontation between a Belgian and Norwegian team.

Blauw-Zwart will play a Norwegian team for the thirteenth time in Europe. The previous five home matches ended in four wins (last: 3-1 against Bodø/Glimt during the group stage of this edition) and one defeat (0-1 against Brann in the first round of the UEFA Cup 2007/08). 

De Cuyper's converted penalty kick may soon prove crucial. For the flank defender it was the second goal on European stage this season, as he also scored an (important) goal in the preliminaries earlier this season against Osasuna (Spa).

Important to know: since a few years, the rule that away goals count double no longer applies. If Club wins by one goal difference, we go to extensions and possibly penalty kicks anyway. In the last four games where it came to penalties for Club, Blauw-Zwart punched through each time. Molde won one of its two penalty kick series on European stage.

Top shooter for Club in Europe is Igor Thiago with six goals, Vanaken and Skov Olsen are hot on his heels with five goals. Maxim De Cuyper still counts the most assists (4).

Mechele, Thiago and Jutglà must avoid a yellow card or they will face a suspension.

The opponent 

So Molde will be guests at Jan Breydel, where the stout Norwegians are looking to cash in on their lead with a qualifier. They have already made an excellent start to 2023, although their league only starts the first weekend of April, they have already played three matches with stakes - all in the Conference League. In the playoff round, Molde came out against Poland's Legia Warsaw. MFK won both games, 0-3 and 3-2.

The top Norwegian club plays against Club for the eighth time against a Belgian club. The previous three away games against a Belgian team were lost (5-1 against KSV Waregem in 1888/89, 3-1 against Standard in 2015/16 and 4-0 against KAA Gent in 2022/23).

If coach Erling Moe's team can knock out Club Brugge, they will qualify for a European quarterfinal for the first time in their history. So far, they matched their record from 2021 when they also made it to the 1/8th final. Molde could become the 6th Norwegian team to reach the quarterfinals in Europe after Lyn Oslo, Rosenborg BK, SK Brann, Vålerenga Fotball and FK Bodø/Glimt.

Fredrik Gulbrandsen is becoming a man to keep an eye on. The Norwegian striker scored the winning goal in the away game, and could already score seven times in his last six European games. The other goal scorer in the home game was Halldor Stenevik, scoring his first goal of his career.

One Belgian once played for the Norwegians. Goalkeeper Álex Craninx stood between the posts at Molde 29 times between 2018 and 2023. In between, he was loaned to RFC Seraing for six months.

Milestones 

• Brandon Mechele can play his 420th official match for Club.
• Ferran Jutglà can be in action for the 80th time at Blue-Black.
• Hans Vanaken can play his 70th European match for Club.
• Éder Balanta awaits his 25th European match at Club.
• Michal Skóraś can play the 40th European match of his career. He played 29 for Lech Poznan (Pol) and 10 for Club.
• For Philip Zinckernagel it could be his 20th European match. He played 3 for Bodø/Glimt (Nor), 6 for Olympiacos (Gre) and 10 for Club.
  

The referee

Referee on duty is Romanian Radu Marian Petrescu. He will be assisted by his compatriots: Radu Adrian Ștefan Ghinguleac and Mircea Mihail Grigoriu.

The fourth official is Marcel Bîrsan and VAR for the return is Ovidiu Alin Hațegan, assisted by Sebastian Constantin Colțescu.

It is Club's 12th European match to be led by a Romanian referee. Petrescu previously whistled European matches of Sporting Charleroi, KAA Gent and Royal Antwerp.