Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Belgian Pro League clash between Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Club Brugge play host to neighbours Cercle Brugge on Sunday looking for the point that they require to seal the Belgian Pro League title and qualify for the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Cercle head into the contest at the Jan Breydel Stadium requiring at least a point to stay in the running for a Europa League qualifying round spot.
Match preview
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When Club Brugge agonisingly missed out on a place in the Europa Conference League final to Fiorentina, it remained to be seen how they would react on the domestic front.
Facing Union SG and Anderlecht quickly became their biggest two matches of the campaign as they bid to get their hands back on the Belgian Pro League title after missing out in 2022-23.
However, a 2-2 draw at home to Union SG was followed by a 1-0 victory away at Anderlecht, Denis Odoi‘s 29th-minute goal putting Club Brugge on the brink of becoming champions.
Just a point is needed to get over the line, Nicky Hayen‘s side having established a three-point advantage over both of the aforementioned clubs heading into the final weekend.
With just one defeat in their last 12 matches, Club Brugge will have every confidence that they will be lifting the trophy come Sunday evening, as well as frustrating their neighbours.
Cercle Brugge have already ensured that they will beat their sixth-placed finish from last season with a minimum of fifth this time around, guaranteeing the minimum of a European playoff tie.
Nevertheless, they are desperate to avoid that fixture by replacing Genk in fifth, who sit one point clear ahead of their own fixture with Union SG.
Miron Muslic‘s team cannot claim to have been in the best form during the playoffs, yet back-to-back successes over Genk and Antwerp have kept them in contention.
Losing 2-1 at home to Union SG last time out came as a massive disappointment, yet they now face their rivals having played out 1-1 draws with them on two occasions since February 18.
Club Brugge Belgian Pro League form:
Club Brugge form (all competitions):
Cercle Brugge Belgian Pro League form:
Team News
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Eder Balanta could be drafted into the Club Brugge XI after Casper Nielsen was forced off during the closing stages against Anderlecht.
The remainder of the side could stay the same unless one of Antonio Nusa, Philip Zinckernagel or Andreas Skov Olsen are brought back into the team on the flank.
Having put up a respectable fight against Union SG, Muslic may not be in any rush to make major alterations to his Cercle Brugge side.
Alan Minda and Kazeem Olaigbe are options in the final third, but there could plausibly be no further changes with what is at stake.
Nils De Wilde, Malamine Efekele and Edgaras Utkus could all remain on the sidelines.
Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Odoi, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Balanta, Onyedika; Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras; Jutgla
Cercle Brugge possible starting lineup:
Warleson; Siquet, Ravych, Daland, Lopes; Francis, Van Der Bruggen; Somers, Lemarechal, Augusto; Denkey
We say: Club Brugge 2-0 Cercle Brugge
Although Cercle Brugge will be motivated to upset the odds here, they are aware of the size of the task in front of them. Club Brugge have been imperiously consistent during the run-in, and we expect another victory here, potentially with a clean sheet, too.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.