Match Previews

country flag First Division A Round 1
Club Brugge vs. Eupen
Sun 29 July 2018 13:30
Referee
Natan Verboomen
Weather at KO
Travel Info
Distance
(Distance Matrix)

Club Brugge

Last updated: Sun 29 July 2018 07:58
In Brief

Mata and Diatta are ruled out while Nakamba and Mechele are missing as well. Emmanuel back in the fold. Diaby, Limbombe and Refaelov left out.

Looking Back

Started the season by winning the Belgian Super Cup, claiming a 2:1 home success over Standard Liege. It was a pretty decent performance given that it comes straight after a gruelling pre-season and Ivan Leko saw some good things from his players, even if they struggled in the second half.

Looking Ahead

Will expect to claim the win at home against a poor Eupen side and kick off the title defence in style. It certainly looks like a pretty winnable game for the champions and Ivan Leko will be looking for his men to show urgency and drive from the side and not get complacent.

The squad is already being stretched by numerous injuries as the likes of Clinton Mata and Kreppin Diatta are sidelined, with the latter suffering a broken wrist last weekend in the game against Standard. Brandon Mechele and Marvelous Nakamba are serious injury concerns and are missing as well.

The good news is that Dennis Emmanuel comes back into the fold after a knock ruled him out against Standard. However, important players like Abdoulay Diaby and Anthony Limbombe, who are both agitating for moves, are not in the squad and the same applies to Lior Refaelov.

Points of Interest

Brugge were 3:1 winners at home against Eupen last season and drew 2:2 in the away game.

Eupen

Last updated: Sun 29 July 2018 07:58
In Brief

Ibrahim Diallo remains out for the long term but everyone else is fit.

Looking Back

Have played some decent games in pre-season and especially impressed in a 3:2 win over Olympiacos a couple of weeks ago.

Claude Makelele has managed to bring in some good players into the team in the summer and will be looking for a more positive and stable campaign for the Pandas this time around.

Looking Ahead

It is the toughest possible start for Eupen as they head to champions Brugge in what will be a very difficult and taxing game. Their defence will be put under some serious pressure on the day and Makelele will be keen to see how they manage the challenge.

No major injuries and only Ibrahim Diallo, who has been sidelined since the start of the season, remains out. The likes of Danijel Milicevic and David Pollet should lead the attacking line while Julian Schauerte and Cheick Keita are expected to make debuts at full-back.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Clinton Mata (mid), Charleroi), Luan Peres (def), Fluminense), Mats Rits (mid), Mechelen), Karlo Letica (gk), Hajduk Split), Siebe Schrijvers (mid), Genk), Arnaut Groeneveld (mid), NEC Nijmegen)
Transfer out
  • Jérémy Perbet (sp)(att), Charleroi), Timmy Simons (mid), retired), Kenneth Vermeer (r)(gk), Feyenoord - end of loan), Jordy Clasie (sp)(mid), Southampton - end of loan), Jordy Vanlerberghe (sp)(mid), Oostende - loan)
Transfer in
  • David Pollet (att), Charleroi - loan), Cheick Keita (def), Birmingham - loan), Danijel Milicevic (mid), Gent), Xavi Molina (def), Gimnastic), Mégan Laurent (mid), Lierse), Ivan Yagan (att), Lierse), Julian Schauerte (def). Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Transfer out
  • Damien Mouchamps (sp)(att), RFC Liege), Marc Valiente (r)(def), Partizan), Mickaël Tirpan (r)(def), Lokeren), Jambo Odeni George (sp)(mid), Mathieu Peybernes (r)(def), Lorient - end of loan), Mamadou Koné (r)(att), Leganes - end of loan), Mbaye Leye (r)(att)
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Clinton Mata (mid), Charleroi), Luan Peres (def), Fluminense), Mats Rits (mid), Mechelen), Karlo Letica (gk), Hajduk Split), Siebe Schrijvers (mid), Genk), Arnaut Groeneveld (mid), NEC Nijmegen)
Transfer out
  • Jérémy Perbet (sp)(att), Charleroi), Timmy Simons (mid), retired), Kenneth Vermeer (r)(gk), Feyenoord - end of loan), Jordy Clasie (sp)(mid), Southampton - end of loan), Jordy Vanlerberghe (sp)(mid), Oostende - loan)

Eupen

Last updated: Sun 29 July 2018 07:58
In Brief

Ibrahim Diallo remains out for the long term but everyone else is fit.

Looking Back

Have played some decent games in pre-season and especially impressed in a 3:2 win over Olympiacos a couple of weeks ago.

Claude Makelele has managed to bring in some good players into the team in the summer and will be looking for a more positive and stable campaign for the Pandas this time around.

Looking Ahead

It is the toughest possible start for Eupen as they head to champions Brugge in what will be a very difficult and taxing game. Their defence will be put under some serious pressure on the day and Makelele will be keen to see how they manage the challenge.

No major injuries and only Ibrahim Diallo, who has been sidelined since the start of the season, remains out. The likes of Danijel Milicevic and David Pollet should lead the attacking line while Julian Schauerte and Cheick Keita are expected to make debuts at full-back.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • David Pollet (att), Charleroi - loan), Cheick Keita (def), Birmingham - loan), Danijel Milicevic (mid), Gent), Xavi Molina (def), Gimnastic), Mégan Laurent (mid), Lierse), Ivan Yagan (att), Lierse), Julian Schauerte (def). Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Transfer out
  • Damien Mouchamps (sp)(att), RFC Liege), Marc Valiente (r)(def), Partizan), Mickaël Tirpan (r)(def), Lokeren), Jambo Odeni George (sp)(mid), Mathieu Peybernes (r)(def), Lorient - end of loan), Mamadou Koné (r)(att), Leganes - end of loan), Mbaye Leye (r)(att)

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players
Game Score
Round 1
Club Brugge - Eupen 5 - 2
Round 13
SV Zulte Waregem - Standard Liege 3 - 1