18 October 2021, 16:38 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group A fixture, Club Brugge KV vs. Manchester City, kicks off at 17:45 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, October 19 at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Preview Club Brugge Champions League, Oct 19, 2021
Preview Following the impressive UEFA Champions League opening day 1-1 draw against PSG, Club Brugge defeated RB Leipzig on UCL Matchday 2, 2-1. Christopher Nkunku (5’) had fired the Red Bulls into the lead, bringing his tally in the UEFA Champions League to four after his Matchday 1 hattrick against Manchester City. However, Hans Vanaken (22’) restored parity midway through the first half. Four minutes to the stroke of half-time, Mats Rits (41’) carved both sides apart for the club's first-ever victory on German soil. Over the weekend, Brugge picked up a 2-0 win over K.V. Kortrijk, leaving the club unbeaten in five games across all competitions: WDWDW. Brugge are in 2nd place in Group A with equal points as PSG, 4, while having a lesser goal difference of +1 after 1W, 1D & 0L. Philippe Clement hopes to come out on top in this contest of champions on Tuesday. However, Club Brugge haven't won in their last 12 games (3D & 9L) against English opposition since the 1-0 home victory against Chelsea in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final first leg. But all six of the club's victories against Premier League sides have come on home soil. A 4—4—1—1 formation with Charles De Ketelaere positioned ahead of Vanaken in attack is expected when the Belgian outfit welcomes the sky-blue-wearing side to the Jan Breydel Stadium this Tuesday.
Preview Manchester City Champions League, Oct 19, 2021
Preview Manchester City set their sights on the UEFA Champions League after putting Burnley aside in a 2-0 win in the Premier League over the weekend. Following the 2-0 defeat to PSG on Matchday 2, the English team is in 3rd place in Group A with 3 points after 1W, 0D & 1L. It was the first defeat for the club in five games across all competitions: WWLDW. Pep aims to make up for the lost points after the shocking Matchday 2 defeat to the nine-time French champions. City have won five in six games against Belgian opposition, with the most recent result coming in the victory over K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup first round. Furthermore, City has bagged a haul of 16 goals against Belgian opposition in the last six games, while conceding only four times. Pep’s 4—3—3 formation could see Jack Grealish on the left, playing alongside Raheem Sterling, in attack. Riyad Mahrez is expected to be the preferred choice on the right ahead of Gabriel Jesus. On availability, Oleksandr Zinchenko remains doubtful for this fixture alongside Ilkay Gündogan, while Ferran Torres is ruled out for at least a month following a foot injury.