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Belgian Pro League | Gameweek 19
Dec 26, 2021 at 12.30pm UK
Jan Breydel Stadium
CB

Cercle Brugge
2 - 0
Brugge

Miangue (53'), David (90')
Deman (56'), Decostere (64'), Miangue (71')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Lang (26'), Mata (57')

Preview: Cercle Brugge vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Cercle Brugge vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Belgian Pro League clash between Cercle Brugge and Club Brugge, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

On Sunday, Cercle Brugge will play host to city rivals Club Brugge, with the home side looking to return to winning ways after a defeat last weekend ended a four game-winning run in the Belgian Pro League.

Meanwhile, the visitors sit in second position and will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.


Match preview

After 15 league games, Cercle Brugge were left languishing in 17th position, but they responded with four consecutive victories to climb up to 14th place.

However, their winning run was ended last weekend by league leaders Union SG, with Cercle Brugge squandering a two-goal lead.

Goals from Edgaras Utkus and Rabbi Matondo gave Dominik Thalhammer's side a comfortable lead at the break, but Union Saint-Gilloise pulled level thanks to strikes from Kaoru Mitoma and Bart Nieuwkoop before Jesper Daland's own goal in stoppage time condemned Cercle Brugge to a 3-2 defeat.

That defeat leaves Sunday's hosts looking over their shoulder with only three points separating themselves and the relegation playoff place.

Although Thalhammer will be disappointed by last weekend's defeat, he will be pleased that after starting the season without a win in their first eight home league matches that they have begun to find their feet on home soil after winning their last two games at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

As for Club Brugge, they may be the designated away team, but they will be familiar with their surroundings given the fact that they play at the same stadium as their local rivals.

Phillipe Clement's side are facing a battle to win their third consecutive league title as they enter Sunday's fixture six points behind Union SG.

Although they may be trailing their title rivals, spirits will be high in the away dressing room as Club Brugge have lost just two league games this season.

They head into Sunday's encounter unbeaten in their last five league games after a late Hans Vanaken strike salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to Anderlecht last weekend, while they would have been buoyed by a 4-1 win over OH Leuven in midweek, which saw them progress to the Belgium Cup semi-finals.

Having scored 15 goals in their last five league matches, Club Brugge will be confident that they possess the required firepower to edge out their rivals in the Bruges derby on Sunday.

Cercle Brugge Belgian Pro League form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Cercle Brugge form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Club Brugge Belgian Pro League form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D

Club Brugge form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

Team News

The hosts will have to change their centre back pairing for Sunday's encounter with Daland suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards, while Utkus had to be withdrawn after 20 minutes last weekend due to injury.

That is likely to lead to David Sousa and Boris Popovic both coming into the centre of defence for the derby.

Meanwhile, Charles Vanhoutte is expected to replace the suspended Leonardo Lopes, who is also missing due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

As for Club Brugge, their only know absentee is Ruben Providence, who is out with an ankle injury.

Despite playing a cup quarter-final in midweek, Club Brugge are expected to name an unchanged lineup.

Having scored five goals in his last four competitive outings, Charles De Ketelaere will pose a significant goal threat for the away side on Sunday.

Cercle Brugge possible starting lineup:
Didillon; Decostere, Popovic, Sousa, Velkovski; Hotic, Van der Bruggen, Vanhoutte; Somers, Deman, Matondo

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Mata, Hendry, Mechele, Sobol; Rits, Balanta, Vanaken; Vormer, Lang, De Ketelaere


We say: Cercle Brugge 1-2 Club Brugge

Having won four of the last five meetings between the sides, we think that Club Brugge will possess too much quality for their neighbours on Sunday, and though it may be close, we expect the away side to collect all three points.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Genk1410132819931
2Royal AntwerpAntwerp1482427111626
3Club BruggeBrugge147432316725
4Anderlecht1465324121223
5GentGent1464423121122
6MechelenMechelen146352819921
7Union SGUnion SG144731712519
8Westerlo145362323018
9Standard Liege14536918-918
10CharleroiCharleroi145271416-217
11Sint-Truiden144552024-417
12Dender144551723-617
13Leuven143741418-416
14Cercle BruggeCercle Brugge144371626-1015
15KortrijkKortrijk144281025-1514
16Beerschot WilrijkBeerschot VA141491231-197
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