Anderlecht vs Club Brugge Preview & Prediction
When is Anderlecht vs Club Brugge on and what time does it start? Anderlecht vs Club Brugge will take place on Sunday 24 September, 2023 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Anderlecht vs Club Brugge? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Anderlecht vs Club Brugge in the UK? Anderlecht vs Club Brugge will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
ANDERLECHT
Brian Riemer led Anderlecht to a mid-table and disappointing finish in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League last season, finishing outside of the top eight. They did show glimpses of quality as they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League but improvement will be needed and expected for this season as they seek to move back towards the top end of the table.
The Brussels club come into this on the back of a 2-2 draw with Kortrijk in their most recent outing, requiring a 97 minute goal to snatch a point against still winless opposition. They have won four and drawn two of their opening seven matches so are still fighting towards the top-of-the-table, albeit that result will be immensely frustrating.
CLUB BRUGGE
In the defence of their title last season, Club Brugge endured a difficult campaign having to use four managers over the course of the year. Despite reaching the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, they only just squeezed into the top four and the championship round on the final day of the regular season.
This time, though, under the management of former Celtic and NYCFC boss Ronny Deila, Club Brugge look to be a lot more impressive as they try and reclaim their title. They come into this on the back of a 1-1 draw in Istanbul away to Besiktas. They have started the season extremely well and have also been playing in a free scoring and entertaining manner, too.
THE TEAM NEWS
ANDERLECHT
Anderlecht will be without some key players for this weekend’s big clash against Club Brugge as both Yari Verschaeren and Kasper Schmeichel are out injured in Brussels.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Dupe; Sardella, Debast, Vertonghen, N’Diaye; Rits, Leoni, Delaney; Flips, Dolberg, Amuzu
UNAVAILABLE: Schmeichel (Injured), Verschaeren (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Ashimeru (Injured)
CLUB BRUGGE
Club Brugge have several injury doubts, such as Bjorn Meijer and Montassar Talbi, whilst Tajon Buchanan is definitely out injured still with a severe injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Mignolet; Sabbe, Mechele, Spileers, De Cuyper; Vetlesen, Onyedika, Vanaken; Skov Olsen, Thiago, Zinckernagel
UNAVAILABLE: Buchanan (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Talbi (Injured), Meijer (Injured), Bursik (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
The so-called ‘Big Three’ of Belgian football consists of Anderlecht, Club Brugge and Standard Liege. All three of those sides have underperformed in recent times but these two at least are looking strong at the start of this season. They are two proactive and attacking sides that will seek to get at each other so an entertaining game in which both teams score seems to be a likely outcome for the Sunday evening showdown in Brussels.
