Club Brugge and Juventus will aim to break into the top eight of the UEFA Champions League standings on Tuesday night.
Club Brugge enter this crucial Champions League clash against Juventus in outstanding form, boasting an 18-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. With 15 wins during this stretch, the Belgian champions are firing on all cylinders and know that a victory on Tuesday would secure them a spot in at least the playoffs. Their prolific attack has been the hallmark of their success, having scored in all but one of their last 30 matches.
The recent 4-2 win over Beerschot in the Belgian Pro League further highlighted their firepower, with Swedish striker Gustaf Nilsson grabbing a brace. Additionally, Brugge have shown their mettle on the European stage, most notably beating Sporting CP courtesy of Casper Nielsen’s late goal in their last Champions League outing. That victory took them to 10 points in the group, leaving them tantalisingly close to a top-eight finish.
Historically, Brugge have struggled against Italian sides, with Belgium’s last Champions League win over a Serie A team dating back to 2003. However, with a vibrant attack and an unbeaten streak fueling their confidence, Nicky Hayen’s men will aim to change the narrative and continue their charge toward the knockout rounds.
Juventus, much like their Belgian counterparts, have been difficult to beat this season. The Serie A giants remain undefeated domestically, and their 2-0 win over AC Milan last weekend served as a much-needed confidence boost for coach Thiago Motta. Goals from Timothy Weah and rising star Samuel Mbangula secured the victory, providing a swift response to their Supercoppa Italiana semifinal disappointment.
Despite their domestic consistency, the Bianconeri have been plagued by an inability to hold onto leads, letting advantages slip on several occasions this season. This trend was evident in recent Serie A draws against Fiorentina, Torino, and Atalanta BC, as well as in their Supercoppa loss to Milan.
Nevertheless, Juventus have shown flashes of their best in the Champions League. A commanding 2-0 win over Manchester City in their last group-phase match highlighted their potential, with Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie on target.
Currently sitting 14th in the group-phase standings with 11 points, Juve must deliver against Brugge to strengthen their hopes of automatic qualification for the knockout stage. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Club Brugge
Nicky Hayen has received a boost with the return of Joaquin Seys, who has recovered from a hamstring injury. This adds depth to the left flank, where Bjorn Meijer and Belgium international Maxim De Cuyper have been competing for starting roles. However, the hosts remain without Zaid Romero, while Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen has departed for Wolfsburg. Additionally, Philip Zinckernagel, Dedryck Boyata, and Kamal Sowah have all been released from the squad.
The midfield is expected to be anchored by Raphael Onyedika alongside the vastly experienced Hans Vanaken, who remains a key figure in Club Brugge’s setup. Up front, the striking duties will likely be handled by either Gustav Nilsson or Ferran Jutgla, depending on Hayen’s tactical preference for the match.
In terms of formation, Club Brugge are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system. Simon Mignolet will start between the posts, with Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordonez, Brandon Mechele, and Maxim De Cuyper forming the back four.
The midfield pivot will feature Raphael Onyedika and Ardon Jashari, tasked with controlling the tempo of the game. Hugo Vetlesen, Hans Vanaken, and Michal Skoras will operate in the attacking midfield roles, providing creativity and width, while Ferran Jutgla is likely to lead the line as the lone striker.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Vetlesen, Vanaken, Skoras; Jutgla
Juventus
Juventus may be set to hand Dusan Vlahovic his first start of 2025, as the Serbian striker, who has been directly involved in eight goals in 12 Champions League appearances, made a substitute appearance in their victory over AC Milan on Saturday. However, Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz could miss out after being substituted at half-time against Milan due to an adductor injury.
If Yildiz is ruled out, he will join long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Bremer on the sidelines. On a positive note, Thiago Motta could welcome Francisco Conceicao back to the squad after a four-game absence, though the winger’s absence has been mitigated by the excellent form of academy graduate Samuel Mbangula in his debut season.
In terms of formation, Juventus are likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 setup. Michele Di Gregorio will feature as the goalkeeper, protected by a back four consisting of Weston McKennie, Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti, and Andrea Cambiaso. Manuel Locatelli and Marcus Thuram are expected to anchor the midfield, offering stability and control.
In the advanced roles, Nico Gonzalez, Teun Koopmeiners, and Samuel Mbangula will provide creativity and attacking threat behind the lone striker Dusan Vlahovic, who will lead the line and aim to convert chances into goals.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; McKennie, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; Vlahovic
Key Stats
- All four meetings between Club Brugge and Juventus have occurred in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. Juventus have won three of these encounters (W3 L1), including home and away victories the last time they met in the same edition (2-1 away and 1-0 at home in the 2005/06 season).
- Club Brugge won their first three games against Italian sides in major European competitions during the 1975/76 UEFA Cup. However, since then, they have struggled against Italian opposition, managing only two wins in their subsequent 20 fixtures (D6 L12), and they are winless in their last 14 matches against Italian clubs.
- The last time a Belgian team defeated an Italian side in the UEFA Champions League was in October 2003, when Club Brugge edged AC Milan 1-0. Since that win, Italian sides have gone unbeaten in 14 such matches against Belgian clubs, winning 10 and drawing four.
- Club Brugge have won three of their six UEFA Champions League group-stage matches this season (D1 L2). They have only surpassed this tally once, winning five matches in their historic 1977-78 European Cup campaign when they reached the final before losing to Liverpool.
- Juventus have kept clean sheets in each of their last two UEFA Champions League matches. This is an improvement compared to their previous 15 games in the competition, during which they managed only one clean sheet. The last time they kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League was in September/October 2021.
Player to Watch
Teun Koopmeiners
The Dutch midfield maestro has quickly become a pivotal figure in Juventus’s lineup under Thiago Motta. Known for his exceptional vision, passing accuracy, and ability to dictate the tempo of the game, Koopmeiners will be crucial in Juventus’s quest for dominance against Club Brugge. His knack for threading precise through balls and contributing defensively in critical moments makes him an indispensable asset in both halves of the pitch.
In this season’s Champions League, Koopmeiners has already showcased his versatility, scoring key goals and assisting his teammates with his set-piece expertise and sharp decision-making in tight spaces. His ability to control the midfield battle will be especially important against a Club Brugge side that thrives on high-tempo play and quick transitions.
With Juventus aiming to secure a spot in the top eight, Koopmeiners’s leadership and tactical intelligence will be under the spotlight. His influence on the game could very well determine whether Juventus can impose themselves and claim the crucial points needed to advance.
Prediction
Club Brugge 1-1 Juventus
This match pits two in-form teams against each other, with both vying for a crucial top-eight finish. Club Brugge’s attacking threat and home advantage make them formidable, while Juventus’s resilience and defensive solidity provide a strong counterpoint.
While Brugge have the firepower to trouble Juve, the Bianconeri’s experience and quality in tight European matches could see them eke out a result. Expect a hard-fought battle, with a draw being a likely outcome.