Having narrowly avoided a group-stage exit, Club Brugge welcome Atletico Madrid to the Jan Breydel Stadion on Wednesday in the Champions League play-offs.
The hosts are aiming to reach the knockout stage for the third time in four seasons, while the visitors seek three consecutive last-16 appearances since their group-stage exit in 2022-23.
Match preview
Club Brugge’s Champions League journey could not have started on a better note as they thrashed Monaco 4-1 in September’s curtain-raiser, but one point from their next five outings left them on the brink of elimination.
Ivan Leko’s men defeated competition debutants Kairat Almaty to retain a glimmer of hope heading into their final group-stage outing against Marseille, which they won 3-0.
Back in the knockout play-offs for the second year running, Blauw-Zwart will hope to replicate last season’s triumph over Atalanta, albeit against more illustrious opponents this time around.
Club Brugge have more than held their own in previous meetings against Atletico and will head into Wednesday’s clash with the wind in their sails after winning five of their last six outings.
Atletico have blown hot and cold since the turn of the month, having emphatically beaten Real Betis and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, while also losing to Betis and Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
Diego Simeone’s men will make a debut appearance in the play-offs following their 14th-place finish in the league phase with 13 points from six matches.
This was largely due to a poor run at the end of the group stages, during which Los Colchoneros collected just one point from their final two games against Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt.
Team news
Dani van den Heuvel has not featured for Club Brugge since mid-January due to a leg injury.
The 22-year-old is one of four expected absentees for his side, alongside Lynnt Audoor, Ludovit Reis and Jorne Spileers.
Pablo Barrios is set to miss a fourth straight game with a muscle issue, but Johnny Cardoso is back available for Atletico.
Winter arrival Ademola Lookman has made a bright start to life in Madrid with two goals and two assists in four matches ahead of his European debut for the visitors.
Club Brugge Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys; Stankovic, Onyedika; Tzolis, Vanaken, Diakhon; Tresoldi.
Atletico Madrid Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Ruggeri, Hancko, Pubill, Molina; Lookman, Koke, Llorente, Simeone; Alvarez, Griezmann.
Prediction: Club Brugge 1-3 Atletico Madrid.
