The UEFA Champions League is just around the corner. This time, PSV will host the leader of the Belgian Pro League: Club Brugge. A team that is also performing very well in Europe.
With victories over RC Lens (3-0) and Inter Milan (4-3) and a loss to Aston Villa (2-3), Club Brugge currently sits in eleventh place in the standings. PSV is in eighteenth place with four points. A victory would therefore see Peter Bosz ’s team move ahead of their southern neighbors.
Wednesday night’s match is therefore a clash between two teams in top form. In addition to its victories in the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge has also recorded nine wins in the Belgian Pro League. As a result, the Blue and Blacks sit in first place after ten matches.
PSV, for its part, is also enjoying a strong run. Last weekend, they defeated Willem II 7-0 at home. The week before, they drew 1-1 with Feyenoord but played a very good game. And earlier that week, they defeated FC Porto 1-0 in the lion’s den.
PSV and Club Brugge have never faced each otherin an official match. However, several friendly matches have been played in recent years. In 2024, the score was 1-1, and in 2020, the Belgians won 2-1.
Belgian past
Ivan Perišić played for Club Brugge fifteen years ago. In 2009, at the age of twenty, he signed a contract there. He played two seasons in Belgium and left for Borussia Dortmund in 2011. During his time with the Blue and Black, he scored 35 goals. In 2011, he was even named Belgian Football Player of the Year. He received this award after a strong season in which he scored 22 goals.
History of Club Brugge
Club Brugge has won the national championship 20 times. In addition, the Belgian powerhouse holds the record for the most Croky Cup (Belgian Cup) victories, with twelve. The club has never won a European title, but reached the final of the UEFA Cup (now the UEFA Europa League) in 1976 and the final of the European Cup I (now the UEFA Champions League) in 1978. In 2024, Club Brugge reached the semifinals of the UEFA Conference League.
Club Brugge Roster
The team is led by Ivan Leko. Club Brugge is one of five Belgian clubs where the Croatian has served as head coach. Nearly ten years ago, he already coached Brugge for two seasons, from 2017 to 2019. Under his leadership, Club Brugge has won the national championship twice and the Belgian Super Cup once.
The head coach has scoring power at his disposal in his team. Nicolo Tresoldi scored four goals in three matches in the UEFA Champions League. In the Belgian Pro League, the Italian-German forward has eight goals in ten matches.
Former PSV player Matteo Dams signed a contract with Club Brugge last summer. He transferred from Al-Ahli.