Club Brugge vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Belgian champions Club Brugge continue the league phase of the UEFA Champions League with a clash against Lens at the Jan Breydel Stadion.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Club Brugge preview: Entertaining again
As has been the case in recent seasons, Club Brugge have again been entertaining to watch in the UEFA Champions League this time around after beginning their campaign with a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa last month.
That was backed up by a thrilling victory away from home against Italian champions Internazionale at San Siro last week, winning by four goals to three in Milan with a hat-trick scored by German striker Nicolo Tresoldi.
Lens preview: Bizarre start
Despite beginning the season well and winning the Trophee des Champions, Lens parted company with former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller just a few months into his reign after a fall out with the club.
Lens had won their league phase opener against Slavia Prague under Toppmoller but his replacement, Yannick Cahuzac, instead oversaw a 2-0 loss in their second game against Sporting CP at Stade Bollaert-Delelis at the weekend.
Club Brugge team news: Forbs fit
Carlos Forbs was a doubt ahead of the trip to face Inter but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man instead played and thrived in that one. Ecuador international centre-back Joel Ordonez remains their only absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Sabbe, Spileers, Mechele, Seys; Potts, Vanaken; Forbs, Vetlesen, Virgili; Tresoldi
Unavailable: Ordonez (Injured)
Questionable:
Lens team news: Fresh injuries
Lens make the short trip across to Belgium with some fresh injuries as both Pierre Ganiou and Ruben Aguilar are now doubts as Jonathan Gradit works his way back to full fitness.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Risser; Bulatovic, Baidoo, Antonio; Abdulhamid, Cuisance, Haidara, Udol; Thauvin, Kadile; Ivanovic
Unavailable: Nawrocki (Injured), Sima (Injured)
Questionable: Gradit (Fitness), Ganiou (Injured), Aguilar (Injured)
Club Brugge vs Lens prediction
Despite their defeat to Sporting last week, Lens continued their strong form in Ligue 1 at the weekend as they defeated newly-promoted Troyes by three goals to one to mean they are one of five teams sitting at the top-of-the-table on 14 points. Club Brugge went on to defeat Lokeren by a goal to nil in the Belgian Cup to extend their winning streak to five matches across all competitions since losing to Villa and they will once again get themselves on the front foot here with both teams scoring again seeming a decent bet.
Club Brugge vs Lens Tip: Both teams to score
