Champions League | League Stage

Dec 10, 2024 at 8pm UK

Jan Breydelstadion

Bruggevs.Sporting Lisbon

Match preview

Club Brugge have had a mixed start to their Champions League campaign, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their five matches. They've picked up seven points, which puts them in 22nd spot in the table, just one point ahead of 24th-placed Real Madrid.

The Belgian team has struggled to score goals in the competition this season, finding the back of the net just four times. However, they have been solid at the back, conceding only seven times in their five matches.

Nicky Hayen's side have lost to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan in the Champions League this term, but they've managed to secure four points from their last two matches. They beat Aston Villa 1-0 before drawing 1-1 with Celtic at the end of November.

Blauw-Zwart will be going into this match on the back of three straight defeats. On a more positive note, they've been on a winning streak in all competitions for the last 10 games, including a 2-1 success over Mechelen in the league on Saturday. This result has left them second in the Belgian table on 34 points, four points behind division leaders Genk.

Club Brugge have won three, drawn one and lost three of their previous seven home games against Portuguese clubs, but Tuesday's clash will be the first time these two sides have met.

Sporting, on the other hand, will be coming into this match after losing 2-1 to Moreirense in the Primeira Liga. This result leaves them on 33 points from 13 league matches, two points ahead of second-placed Benfica in the table.

The Green and Whites have lost their last three games in all competitions, including a 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League at the end of last month. The team has been struggling since Ruben Amorim left in mid-November.

João Pereira's team is in 10th place in the Champions League table with three wins, one draw and one defeat, which has earned them 10 points. This puts them five points behind the overall leaders Liverpool.

Sporting are still in a good position to make it through to the knockout round of the competition, but they've never managed to win an away match against a Belgian club. They've drawn two and lost three of their last five matches against teams in Belgium.

The Lisbon giants have actually been beaten in 10 of their last 16 away matches in the Champions League, but they've only lost three of their last 14 away European games overall, with five wins.

Recent Performance

Club Brugge Champions League form:LWLWD

Club Brugge form (all competitions):WDWDWW

Sporting Lisbon Champions League form:WDWWL

Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):WWWLLL

Team News

Bjorn Meijer will be missing from the Club Brugge line-up on Tuesday, but Gustaf Nilsson is back in contention after a one-month absence due to a calf problem. The Swede was back on the bench in the league on Saturday.

Christos Tzolis has been on great form this season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 24 appearances. The 22-year-old will be in the home side's starting XI once again.

Hans Vanaken has seven goals and eight assists in 25 appearances this term, so he's another certain starter. Ferran Jutgla only has three goals this term, but the 25-year-old should continue as the centre-forward.

Sporting have a few injury worries. Franco Israel is still a doubt due to illness, while Eduardo Quaresma is out with an ankle problem. Nuno Santos and Pedro Goncalves are also missing for the visitors.

Viktor Gyokeres has been on fire this season, netting 25 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions. The Sweden international will once again spearhead the Sporting attack on Tuesday night.

It's a big loss for Goncalves, who has five goals and six assists this term. Marcus Edwards is expected to benefit, with the Englishman potentially joining Gyokeres and Trincao in the front three.

Possible starting lineup

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:

Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Skov Olsen, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Kovacevic; St Juste, Diomande, Inacio; Quenda, Hjulmand, Morita, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Edwards