Borussia Dortmund will aim to put last season’s final heartbreak behind them when they face Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
Kicking off their 2024/25 Champions League campaigns, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge clash on Wednesday at the Jan Breydel Stadium in what promises to be a thrilling encounter in the competition’s revamped league phase.
Having come agonisingly close to lifting the trophy last season, Borussia Dortmund are back, eager to reclaim European glory, while Club Brugge missed out on last year’s competition but now have their sights set on making a significant impact.
After a stunning run to the final last season, Borussia Dortmund will be keen to rekindle that magic as they embark on another Champions League journey. Guided by Edin Terzic, they conquered the “group of death” that featured Newcastle United, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, before dispatching PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid in the knockout rounds. However, their dreams were crushed at Wembley by a resilient Real Madrid side that denied them a fairy-tale ending.
Domestically, Dortmund’s struggles were evident as they finished fifth in the Bundesliga, a staggering 27 points adrift of runaway champions Bayer Leverkusen, marking their worst domestic showing since 2015. Despite that, their Champions League performance helped Germany secure five automatic places in the competition, and BVB are ready for their ninth consecutive season at Europe’s top table.
In a summer of changes, Edin Terzic made way for Nuri Sahin, the former Dortmund midfielder who now takes the reins as head coach at just 36 years of age. With two wins and a draw from his first three games in charge, Sahin has made a promising start, with his side recently dismantling Heidenheim 4-2, thanks to a brace from Karim Adeyemi.
Dortmund face familiar opposition in Club Brugge, having encountered the Belgian side twice in the last seven years. The German giants have the upper hand, winning four of the six previous meetings. Remarkably, they have also won each of their last four games in Belgium without conceding a goal, setting the stage for what could be another dominant performance.
Meanwhile, Club Brugge are no strangers to Europe’s elite competition. The Belgian champions are featuring in the group stages for the sixth time in seven years and are aiming to make a splash after missing out last season. Their last major European campaign saw them reach the knockout stages for the first time in years, only to be comprehensively beaten by Benfica in the last 16.
Domestically, Club Brugge have been a force to be reckoned with, winning their 19th Belgian Pro League title last season, and once again proving their dominance in the country. Now, under Nicky Hayen – who was appointed permanently in the summer after leading them to the title – Brugge are off to another strong start, sitting at the top of the table after seven matches.
Hayen’s men have been particularly solid at home, unbeaten in European competition at Jan Breydel Stadium last season, which included an impressive run to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
They edged out Molde and PAOK before narrowly falling to Fiorentina in an epic semi-final battle. Brugge will be keen to capitalise on their home form to make a statement against the mighty Borussia Dortmund. The Hard Tackle explores the possible lineups and strategies for this much-awaited match.
Team News & Tactics
Club Brugge
Club Brugge will benefit from the return of Kyriani Sabbe, who is back from injury just in time for this crucial Champions League fixture. However, the Belgian side will still be missing two key players: left-back Bjorn Meijer and midfielder Casper Nielsen, who remain sidelined due to ongoing injury concerns.
Despite their absence, Brugge will rely on their attacking force led by Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen, who is the team’s top scorer this season with three goals. Additionally, Chemsdine Talbi, the young prospect, is pushing for more game time after scoring as a substitute last weekend.
In terms of formation, Simon Mignolet will start in goal, with Joaquin Seys, Brandon Mechele, and Victor Ordonez making up the backline alongside Maxim De Cuyper at left-back. Raphael Onyedika and Hugo Vetlesen will anchor the midfield, providing cover for the attacking trio of Andreas Skov Olsen on the right, captain Hans Vanaken playing centrally, and Christos Tzolis on the left.
Gustaf Nilsson is expected to lead the attack upfront as the main striker. This 4-2-3-1 setup will rely heavily on Hans Vanaken’s creative input, as he is not only the team’s top appearance maker in the Champions League but also directly contributed to seven goals during their journey to the Conference League semi-finals last season.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Seys, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Vetlesen; Skov Olsen, Vanaken, Tzolis; Nilsson
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have received a significant boost with the return of Serhou Guirassy, who made his first start for the club after recovering from a knee injury sustained on international duty. The Guinea striker will be in contention with Maximilian Beier for the starting striker role.
However, Dortmund could be without USA international Giovanni Reyna once again, as the young playmaker is dealing with a persistent groin problem. On the brighter side, Brazilian wi man Yan Couto, who had withdrawn from the Brazil squad due to injury, made a return as a substitute against Heidenheim and could feature in the squad again.
In terms of formation, Gregor Kobel will start in goal, with Julian Ryerson likely at right-back and Waldemar Anton and Niklas Sule forming the central defensive partnership. Ramy Bensebaini is expected to take the left-back position.
In midfield, Emre Can and Antonios Papadopoulos will provide stability, while the more creative roles will be handled by Marcel Sabitzer, Julian Brandt, and Karim Adeyemi, with Adeyemi coming off a sensational run of form. Up front, Serhou Guirassy is likely to spearhead the attack.
This 4-2-3-1 setup gives Dortmund the flexibility to control the game in midfield while unleashing Adeyemi and Sabitzer’s attacking prowess from deeper positions, with Guirassy tasked with finishing off the team’s chances.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Sule, Bensebaini; Can, Gross; Sabitzer, Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Key Stats
- Club Brugge have lost four of their last five European games against Borussia Dortmund, including losing both UEFA Champions League group stage games 3-0 in the 2020-21 season.
- Borussia Dortmund have never conceded a goal in their four previous UEFA Champions League meetings with Club Brugge. No side has ever played five games against the same opponent without conceding in the competition’s history.
- Club Brugge have only won three of their last 20 home matches in the UEFA Champions League (D6 L11). In their last six at home, they won two without conceding but lost the other four with an aggregate score of 16-1.
- Borussia Dortmund lost 2-0 in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. Historically, only one of the last five losing finalists have started their next campaign with a win (D2 L2).
- Club Brugge have lost only two of their last 12 matches in European competition, including qualifiers (W8 D2). Only three teams have won more matches than Club Brugge’s eight victories in European competition last season (Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Olympiakos).
Player to Watch
Serhou Guirassy
Serhou Guirassy is the player to keep an eye on for Borussia Dortmund in this match-up. Having recently recovered from a knee injury, Guirassy made his first start for the club and has quickly found his form. Known for his physicality, aerial threat, and ability to hold up play, the Guinean striker offers Dortmund a new dynamic in attack.
Guirassy’s scoring ability has already been on display with impressive performances, and with the support of players like Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt, he could be pivotal in breaking down Club Brugge’s defence. His presence in the box, combined with his knack for being in the right place at the right time, makes him a dangerous player that Brugge will need to mark closely.
With Dortmund keen to make a strong start in the UEFA Champions League, Guirassy will be looking to open his account in Europe and lead the line with confidence.
Prediction
Club Brugge 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund’s dominant record against Club Brugge, coupled with their strong start to the season, makes them clear favourites for this encounter. Dortmund have never conceded a goal in their previous Champions League meetings with Brugge, and with their solid defence and attacking prowess, they are expected to extend that streak.
Club Brugge, while strong domestically, have struggled against top-tier European opposition in recent years. Despite the home advantage, they are likely to find it difficult to break down Dortmund’s organised defence and cope with the firepower of players like Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy.
Dortmund should control the game and create plenty of chances, and with their quality in attack, a comfortable 2-0 victory seems likely for the German side.