Competition: UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 7
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Match Overview and Current Form
Club Brugge
Current Standing: 19th in the League Phase (10 points, GD -2).
Recent Form:
Last 5 matches (all competitions): W-W-W-W-W
Undefeated in their last 18 matches (W15, D3).
Won their last five matches, including a 2-1 win over Genk in the Belgian Cup semi-final first leg.
Champions League Campaign: Rebounded well after a Matchday 1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Recent victories include a 1-0 win over Aston Villa and a 2-1 success against Sporting CP, showing resilience in tight contests
Juventus
Current Standing: 14th in the League Phase (11 points, GD +4).
Recent Form:
Last 5 matches (all competitions): W-D-D-D-W
Unbeaten in Serie A but plagued by 13 draws in 21 matches.
Champions League Campaign: Highlighted by a crucial 2-0 win over Manchester City on Matchday 6. Their away form remains inconsistent, with a solitary victory at Leipzig and draws at Aston Villa and Lille.
Tactical Analysis
Club Brugge
Formation: Likely 4-2-3-1.
Club Brugge thrives on quick transitions and width provided by their full-backs, especially Maxim De Cuyper.
Hans Vanaken will dictate play in midfield with creativity and experience, while Ferran Jutglà offers a dynamic attacking threat.
Defensively, they aim to press high, leveraging their home advantage but have shown vulnerabilities against teams capable of quick counterattacks.
Juventus
Formation: Likely 4-3-3.
Juventus will prioritise defensive solidity, with Danilo and Federico Gatti forming the core of a disciplined backline.
Teun Koopmeiners and Weston McKennie in midfield will seek to dominate possession and exploit Brugge’s defensive lapses through long passes and late runs.
Up front, Dušan Vlahović will be the focal point, supported by wide players like Kenan Yildiz and Timothy Weah.
Key Players to Watch
Club Brugge
Ferran Jutglà: A versatile forward pivotal in Brugge's attack, combining technical ability with clinical finishing.
Hans Vanaken: The team's orchestrator, essential for controlling the tempo and creating opportunities.
Maxim De Cuyper: A consistent performer offering both defensive solidity and attacking contributions from the flanks.
Juventus
Dušan Vlahović: The Serbian striker is a game-changer with his physicality and finishing prowess (subject to fitness).
Teun Koopmeiners: A vital cog in Juventus' midfield, known for his distribution and ability to control games.
Weston McKennie: Dynamic and capable of influencing both ends of the pitch, with two goals in this Champions League campaign.
Injuries and Team News
Club Brugge
Unavailable: Andreas Skov Olsen (illness), Joaquin Seys (hamstring)
Doubtful: Zaid Romero (post-dental surgery)
Juventus
Unavailable: Bremer and Juan Cabal (knee injuries, season-ending), Arkadiusz Milik (knee), Francisco Conceição (muscle injury).
Historical Head-to-Head
Total Matches: 4
Club Brugge wins: 1
Juventus wins: 3
Last meeting: Juventus 1-0 Club Brugge (November 2005).
Club Brugge’s lone victory against Juventus came in the 1977/78 European Cup semi-final, where they advanced to the final with a 2-0 extra-time win.
Club Brugge’s excellent home form and attacking momentum will make them formidable opponents. However, Juventus’ defensive organisation and European experience may balance the encounter.
A draw is likely, with both sides cautious about risking their positions in a tightly contested League Phase.
Key Moments: Set pieces could play a decisive role, with Vanaken and Koopmeiners likely to influence the outcome.
Fun Fact
Juventus’ Khéphren Thuram scored his first two goals for the club in December 2024—22 years after his father, Lilian Thuram, scored his only goal for Juventus during his entire stint with the club. Talk about a family legacy!
