After the pleasing victory against Antwerp, we hope to follow that up successfully. We head to Denderleeuw for a duel with promising FCV Dender EH. Read all you need to know for tomorrow's confrontation below.
The Match
On Sunday afternoon, Club Brugge will be the guest of promoted FCV Dender. It will be Club's fifth time playing against the East Flemish club. Previously, 4 confrontations took place between 2007 and 2009, the first period that FCV Dender played at the highest level.
In Denderleeuw, Club lost in March 2008 through a goal by Paco Sanchez (1-0). The following season Club did go on to win at the Florent Beeckman Stadium, although Daniel Chavez's 2 goals did not fall until the 88th and 91st minutes (0-2).
In the preparation for this season, both teams also took on each other at Basecamp. A young Club (average age of starting eleven, 21.83 years) did not get beyond a scoreless draw against Dender.
Last weekend Club was able to win for the first time. It beat Royal Antwerp FC thanks to a goal by Gustaf Nilsson. It was the 31st Swedish goal in Club Brugge's history after Tom Turesson (19), Peter Nilsson (7) and Kurt Axelsson (4) had already scored for Club.
Club should be looking for their first points on the road, as Club lost at both Standard and Genk. Dender is still unbeaten after 2 wins and 2 draws.
The Opponent
FCV Dender EH is the host at the Dender Football Complex in Denderleeuw. For the first time in 16 seasons, the East Flemish club can be admired again at the highest level.
FCV Dender EH was formed in 2005 from the merger of KFC Denderleeuw and Verbroedering Denderhoutem and plays in beautiful blue-black colors. The merger club was able to promote from Third Division to First Division in two years time. Under coach Jean-Pierre Vande Velde and later Jan Boskamp, Dender played in the Jupiler League for the first time in 2007. It was able to stunt several times at home with a draw against Anderlecht and Standard and wins against Club Brugge and KRC Genk. The following season fared less well. In 2009, Dender finished 15th and was one of the victims of the curtailment of the number of teams in the First Division when the playoffs were introduced. After relegation, FCV Dender sank even further and did not play at the professional level for 10 years. But since its promotion in 2022 to 1st Class B, it quickly went up again.
FCV Dender EH achieved promotion last season by finishing second in the Challenger Pro League. It was former player Timmy Simons who guided the East Flames to promotion.
This summer, coach Simons moved to KVC Westerlo and the Denderleeuw team found Vincent Euvrard as his replacement. The 42-year-old coach was active with SV Zulte Waregem last season.
The club was able to retain top shooter Bruny Nsimba (14 goals) and assist king Lennard Hens (11 assists) from last season.
After 4 playing days, FCV Dender EH is still undefeated in the Jupiler Pro League. On the opening day it held Union St-Gillis to a 0-0 draw at home, followed by a stunt victory at KAA Gent (1-2). They also won against KV Kortrijk (4-1) and last weekend FC Dender managed a 3-3 draw at Stayen.
Last summer Dender said goodbye to goalkeeper Xavier Gies. Defenders Dylan Ragolle, Stefano Marzo, Kjetil Borry and Ibrahima Sory Sankhon said goodbye. Midfielders Kenneth Houdret and Jonathan Rowell and strikers Olivier Myny, Louange Muhire and Nicolas Rajsel also left the Dender region.
The club reinforced itself with these players:
- Goalkeepers: Michael Verrips and Guillaume Dietsch
- Defenders: Bryan Goncalves and David Hrnčár
- Midfielders: Roman Květ, Malcolm Viltard and Desmond Acquah
- Attackers: Mohamed Berte, Aurélien Scheidler and Ragnar Oratmangoen
With an average of 7.5 Belgians, Dender has on average the most compatriots at the kickoff in the Jupiler Pro League
Milestones
- Brandon Mechele can see his back number appear in his stats: as he can play his 440th game for Club.
- Ferran Jutglà can play his 100th game for Club! The Spanish striker has so far played 73 league matches, 4 cup matches, 2 Supercups and 20 European games for Club, in which he scored 26 times and handed out 16 assists.
- Casper Nielsen can complete his 70th league match for Club.
- Gustaf Nilsson can play his 70th game in the Jupiler Pro League (so far 65 for Union and 4 for Club).
- Romeo Vermant can play his 25th match in First Division (so far 12 for KVC Westerlo and 12 for Club).
Other matches in the Jupiler Pro League
- Saturday 24/08 18h15: KVC Westerlo - Oud-Heverlee Leuven
(Ref: Jan Boterberg | VAR: Simon Bourdeaud'hui) - Saturday 24/08 20:45: R. Antwerp FC - YR KV Mechelen
(Ref: Nicolas Laforge | VAR: Bert Put) - Sunday 25/08 16h: K. Sint-Truidense VV - R. Union St.-Gilloise
(Ref: Lawrence Visser | VAR: Lothar D'Hondt) - Sunday 25/08 18h30: R. Standard de Liège - K. Beerschot VA
(Ref: Jasper Vergoote | VAR: Bram Van Driessche) - Sunday 25/08 19h15: Sp. du Pays de Charleroi - KV Kortrijk
(Ref: Kevin Van Damme | VAR: Michiel Allaerts) - POSTPONED: Cercle Brugge KSV - KAA Gent
- POSTponed: RSC Anderlecht - KRC Genk
The Referee
Erik Lambrechts was designated ref for this game. Jo De Weirdt and Kevin Monteny are the linesmen on duty. The fourth man is Tom Stevens. In Tubize, Brent Staessens takes his place behind the scenes, assisted by Quentin Pirard and Istvan Lagaert.
For the 41st time, Lambrechts will whistle an official Club match. Its 16 previous away matches ended in 8 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats.
Lambrechts already whistled Club's home match against KV Mechelen earlier this season.