On Sunday, we will receive Antwerp for the last match of the season. Read here everything you need to know about this match!
THE MATCH
In the 59th and final match of the season, Club Brugge KV will host R. Antwerp FC at home. Only in the 2014–15 and 2023–24 seasons (each with 63 games) did Club play more matches in a single season.
This will be the 178th duel between the two teams. Of the 88 previous home matches, Club Brugge recorded 53 wins (most recently 1–0 on 18/08/2024), 17 draws (last time 2–2 on 13/11/2022), and 18 defeats (most recently 0–2 on 21/03/2021).
In the last 25 home games against The Great Old, the Blues lost only once (21 wins, 3 draws).
Club has also won all 5 previous home matches against Antwerp in the Play-Off 1 format, keeping a clean sheet in the last three.
In the regular season, both teams won their respective home fixtures: Club Brugge: 1–0 at Jan Breydel and Antwerp: 2–1 at the Bosuil.
On Matchday 2 of the play-offs, Club won 2–3 away in Antwerp. Before halftime, Club scored three goals through Jutglà, Jashari, and Tzolis. In the second half, the home team narrowed the gap thanks to goals from Balikwisha and Janssen, but they couldn't salvage any points.
If Club Brugge beats Antwerp on Sunday, the club will reach 25 points in the play-offs—its best-ever total, surpassing last season’s 24 points by one.
To equal the record for most goals in a play-off campaign, set by Club itself in 2016 (25 goals), the team would need to score five more times on the final matchday.
Sunday will also mark the 50th league game under coach Nicky Hayen. Under his leadership, Club has achieved 31 wins, 12 draws, and 6 losses.
To still win their 20th national title, Club Brugge will be hoping for a repeat of the regular season results, where Club beat Antwerp (1–0) and Union Saint-Gilloise failed to win at home against KAA Gent (0–0).
Top scorer Christos Tzolis netted his 15th league goal last week, his 7th in the Champions’ Play-Offs. One more goal would see him equal Mbaye Leye’s 2013 record of 8 play-off goals for Zulte Waregem. Tzolis already broke Ivan Perišić’s Club Brugge record of 6 PO1 goals (set in 2011).
Hans Vanaken scored Club Brugge’s 250th league goal against RSC Anderlecht last week. The captain extended his lead as the all-time top scorer in PO1, netting his 25th play-off goal (3 for Sporting Lokeren and 22 for Club).
Vanaken also leads the Jupiler Pro League assist ranking with 13 assists, followed by teammate Christos Tzolis, who has 9.
On Sunday, defenders Brandon Mechele and Zeno Van Den Bosch may face each other. They are the only two outfield players who haven't missed a single minute for their club in the Jupiler Pro League this season. If Mechele plays the full match again, it will be his fifth consecutive PO1 campaign without missing a minute.
Club Brugge will be without Romeo Vermant and Hugo Siquet, who are both suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
THE OPPONENT
Antwerp visits Jan Breydel on Sunday.
It won't be their final match of the season. Because Club Brugge won the Belgian Cup, the team that finishes fifth in the standings will face the winner of the Europe Play-Offs. Royal Antwerp and Sporting Charleroi will meet on Thursday at the Bosuil to compete for a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
The team coached by Dutchman Andries Ulderink has kept a clean sheet in each of their last three away matches (0–0 at Anderlecht, 0–1 at Genk, and 0–3 at Gent). If they manage another clean sheet, they would become the second team after KAA Gent in 2017 to keep four consecutive clean sheets in Play-Off 1 away games.
Ulderink is the seventh Dutch coach to manage a club in PO1, following: Adrie Koster (Club Brugge), John van den Brom (Anderlecht & Genk), Mario Been (Genk), Mark van Bommel (Antwerp), Alfred Schreuder (Club Brugge) and Fred Rutten (Anderlecht).
Toby Alderweireld said goodbye to the Antwerp home fans last weekend during a brief substitute appearance in the PO1 match against Union. It seems unlikely that he will feature at Jan Breydel. After 17 professional seasons (with Ajax, Atlético Madrid, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Al-Duhail, and Antwerp), the defender is hanging up his boots.
Tjaronn Chery is Antwerp’s top scorer with 14 goals, including 3 in PO1—two of which date back to Matchday 8 at KAA Gent. With 7 assists, Vincent Janssen is the club’s top provider this season.
MILESTONES
Casper Nielsen could make his 125th appearance for Club Brugge. It could also be his 125th match in the Belgian First Division, with 39 appearances for Union and 85 for Club.
For Joaquin Seys, it could be his 40th match for Club Brugge.
Hans Vanaken could make his 375th Belgian Pro League appearance for the Blues.
Michal Skóraś could reach his 60th league appearance for Club Brugge.
Jorne Spileers could make his 50th league appearance for Club.
THE MAN IN BLACK
Mr. Lothar D'Hondt has been appointed as the Man in Black for this match.
The East Flanders official, who celebrated his 31st birthday last week, will be assisted by:
-> linesmen Mr. Romain Devillers and Mr. Nico Claes
-> fourth official Mr. Wim Smet
-> VAR Mr. Jan Boterberg, assisted by Mr. Kevin Debeuckelaere and Mr. Jonas Timmermans
This season, he has already whistled two matches between Club Brugge and Antwerp. In addition, he refereed the following Club Brugge games:
i) In the regular season: the away match at KV Kortrijk (0–3).
ii) In the Champions' Play-Offs: the away match at Union (0–0).
iii) In the Croky Cup: the away match at Patro Eisden (1–3) and the home match against OH Leuven (3–0).
For Antwerp, he also whistled the following matches this season:
i) In Play-off 1: the away match at KAA Gent (0–3).
ii) In the regular season: the home derby against Beerschot (5–0), the away match at KRC Genk (2–0), and the home match against KRC Genk (2–2).