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RWDM - Club Brugge: Club Facts

Jupiler Pro League

The penultimate fixture of 2023 is the one in & against RWDM! Prepare perfectly for this game with the Club Facts!

The game

Friday night Club heads to Molenbeek for its last away game of the year. Club ends 2023 with two league matches against Brussels teams R.W.D.Molenbeek and R. Union St.-Gilloise.

In its history, Club played in First Division against 19 different Brussels clubs. In total they were 587 matches (253W 145D 190L).

Blauw-Zwart is playing R.W.D.M. for the second time. In the outward match in August, a big 7-1 victory was recorded. Soon three goals fell on 4 minutes. Philip Zinckernagel's goal was quickly nullified by Florent Sanchez. But Andreas Skov Olsen put Club back in the lead just as quickly. The Dane scored a second time after the break and further Igor Thiago, Antonio Nusa and Tajon Buchanan deepened the score. An owngoal set the final score.


Last weekend, Igor Thiago was able to score 2 goals against the Buffaloes. This now puts the Brazilian on par with Andreas Skov Olsen in the top shooter standings. Both players scored 7 times in the Jupiler Pro League and 16 times across all competitions.

Of all Club's Brazilians, only Wesley (38) scored more goals for Club than Igor Thiago (16). Third best scoring Brazilian in Club's history is Felipe Gedoz (12).

Maxim De Cuyper remains the best declarer at Club (5 assists).

Raphael Onyedika and Hugo Vetlesen must avoid a yellow card to avoid missing last match of the year against Union.

Club already kept zero in the league 5 times in a row. That is the longest streak in 23 years. For a longer series of clean sheets, we already have to go back to October-November 2000 when Club under coach Trond Sollied could keep zero for 6 games in a row: Eendracht Aalst - Club (0-1), Club - STVV (5-0), Westerlo - Club (0-2), Club - KSK Beveren (6-0), Sporting Charleroi - Club (0-4) and Club - Antwerp (2-0).

The opponent 

The reigning champion of the Challenger Pro League R.W.D. Molenbeek hosts Club Brugge on Friday night. After 18 playing days, the Brussels club is in a nice tenth place in the ranking with 21 points.

Last weekend, the club won 3-0 over STVV at home. Makhtar Gueye was the executioner on duty against the Limburgers. The Senegalese struck twice. His compatriot Pathé Mboup recorded the final score.

It was the third home win for coach Cláudio Caçapa's team. Makhtar Gueye is the club's top shooter with 8 goals. Assist king is Xavier Mercier. Three times he set up a teammate to score a goal. RWDM is already 5 matches in a row unbeaten in the Jupiler Pro League (1W 4D).

Milestones

  • Antonio Nusa may play his 60th game for Club Brugge.
  • For Jorne Spileers, it could be the 40th game for Club. The young defender can also play his 30th league match.
  • Michael Skoras can be in action for the 20th time.
  • Brandon Mechele can play his 300th league match for Club.

The referee 

Brent Staessens was designated ref the game between R.W.D.M. and Club. Nico Claes and Nicolas Maszowez are the linesmen. Ken Vermeiren is the fourth official.

Erik Lambrechts is the VAR on duty, assisted by Jo De Weirdt and Roel Bensch.

It is the third time that the 27-year-old East Flanders ref is whistling a Club Brugge match. Previous 2 seasons, he whistled one Club match each time: the away match at Beerschot (1-3) and the home match against KV Oostende (4-2).

Staessens has already whistled 8 matches for R.W.D.M. Of the 5 previous home matches, the club won 3, drew once and lost once.