An in-form Club Brugge travel to the Netherlands for a European game for the first time in over 20 years for a first-ever meeting with PSV on matchday four of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Match News and Current Form
PSV may not be on the Eredivisie summit, but a brutal 7-0 thrashing of bottom-of-the-table Willem II at the weekend suggests they’re hitting form ahead of their UCL return. A 1-0 win over Porto on matchday three gives the Dutch champions the chance to win back-to-back matches in this competition without conceding for the first time since March 2005 here. PSV may need their defence to remain tight given that they’ve scored just twice across the first three matchdays, although they have netted in a club record 21 successive European home games, and each of their last 18 games at Philips Stadion in the UCL proper.
Since losing 3-2 to Aston Villa on matchday one, Club Brugge have won eight successive matches across all competitions, so are well placed domestically and in Europe. The Belgian league leaders know securing a third successive UCL win for just the second time since the competition was rebranded in 1992 would go a long way to helping them reach the knockout stage for the fourth time in as many attempts. Hitting the road is unlikely to faze Brugge either, as they’ve won each of their last four away games, scoring exactly four times in the last three, a sequence that includes a famous 4-3 victory at Inter Milan on matchday two.
Head-to-Head History
PSV have failed to win any of their five meetings with Belgian sides in this competition (D1, L4), losing each of the last four. Club Brugge have lost just once against Dutch opposition (W3, D1) but have never won away against an Eredivisie side (D1, L1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
PSV conceded first in nine of their last 12 UCL matches.
PSV led at half-time in just one of their last 15 games in the UCL proper.
Club Brugge’s last 18 UCL main draw fixtures produced over 2.5 goals.
Club Brugge have never won a UCL away game they trailed at half-time (D2, L15).
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
PSV veteran Ivan Perišić could become just the second player to score for and against Club Brugge in major European competition here, and could do so early with his last four UCL goals all serving as his side’s first of the game. On target on matchday three, Hans Vanaken now has 13 UCL goals for Club Brugge, the most by any player for a Belgian side, with his last three such strikes coming in wins by a three-goal margin.
Neither side look to have any fresh injury concerns.
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Betting Analysis
Goals follow the visitors, and given their stellar form, Club Brugge to win and over 2.5 goals looks a tempting combination.
Author: Ryan Fisher