Club Brugge and Marseille are set to face off at Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday night in a crucial Champions League match, with both teams still in contention for knockout stage qualification. After securing an impressive away victory in their last European outing, Brugge will look to build on that momentum against a Marseille side recovering from a recent heavy defeat.
Club Brugge, known as Blauw-Zwart, has bounced back from consecutive losses in mid-January, achieving two wins in recent days, the latest being a 4-1 victory over Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. This performance was highlighted by captain Hans Vanaken’s goal and assist, marking an essential turnaround for the team. They’ve managed to climb to 27th in the league-phase standings, just a point behind Olympiacos, showcasing their determination to advance in the tournament. Notably, Brugge has only lost once at home in the Champions League this season, that defeat coming against group leaders Arsenal.
On the other side, Marseille has also found their stride recently, winning three of their last four matches after a rocky start to January, which saw them exit the Coupe de France and suffer defeats in Ligue 1. They are looking to avoid back-to-back losses in the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool, where Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick opened the scoring. Despite these setbacks, Marseille’s victory over Ligue 1 leaders Lens solidified their intent to chase silverware this season. Currently occupying 19th place in the group standings, a win in Belgium would assure them a place in the knockout stages.
In terms of team news, Club Brugge will be without winger Christos Tzolis due to a back injury and goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel, who suffered a minor injury earlier in the month. Lynnt Audoor is still recovering from a muscle injury and has not featured this year. Meanwhile, Marseille will miss Benjamin Pavard, who is suspended after accruing yellow cards, along with former Chelsea defender Emerson due to a thigh injury.
Both teams are seeking a crucial victory, making this clash a highly anticipated encounter. With a balanced prediction of a 2-2 draw, the match is expected to be competitive. Brugge’s prior experience in handling significant opponents, including a draw with Barcelona earlier in the campaign, suggests they won’t take Marseille lightly. Regardless of the outcome, the stakes are high as each team aims to solidify their Champions League standing.