Club Brugge vs Barcelona Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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Belgian giants Club Brugge will believe they can get at their stellar opposition as a susceptible and fallible Barcelona side head to the Janbreydelstadion this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Club Brugge preview: Low floor, high ceiling
Club Brugge come into this one on the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Dender in their most recent outing at the weekend, as they sit behind defending champions Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at the top of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League table.
In the UEFA Champions League thus far, Club Brugge have managed just one win with their own two defeats. They began with a 4-1 victory over Monaco before back-to-back defeats against Atalanta and then Bayern Munich.
Barcelona preview: Exposed Barca
After a brilliant campaign last season, Barcelona will be concerned that Hansi Flick’s style of football is beginning to be exposed with their high-line becoming an issue as they sit five points behind Real Madrid at the top-of-the-table in La Liga.
They were semi-finalists last season and have started the league phase this season with victories against Newcastle United and Olympiacos, sandwiching a 2-1 defeat at home to injury-hit defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Club Brugge team news: Onyedika a doubt
Raphael Onyedika is a doubt for Club Brugge this week, and they also have some experienced absentees such as defender Simon Mignolet and defender Bjorn Meijer.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jackers; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys; Onyedika, Stankovic; Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis; Tresoldi
Unavailable: Mignolet (Injured), Meijer (Injured), Reis (Injured)
Questionable: Onyedika (Injured)
Barcelona team news: Lewa working his way back
Key man Robert Lewandowski is working his way back to full fitness but he is a doubt due to his hamstring injury, whilst key men Joan Garcia and Raphinha remain sidelined for the Catalans.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, E. Garcia, Balde; De Jong, Casado; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Torres
Unavailable: J. Garcia (Injured), Ter Stegen (Injured), Pedri (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Raphinha (Injured)
Questionable: Christensen (Injured), Olmo (Injured), Lewandowski (Injured)
Club Brugge vs Barcelona prediction
Club Brugge have some quality players and they are able to chop and change each summer and replace, as is their policy and overall strategy. They face a Barcelona side that head to Belgium with some in-from attackers, such as Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford, but their defensive concerns will always mean a high-scoring game is to be expected, albeit the visitors are firm favourites.
Club Brugge vs Barcelona Tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals
