Prediction: Club Brugge to win 2-0
Best Odds: 7/1
Bookmaker: Zetbet
Club Brugge and FC Salzburg will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Champions League qualifying this week. The second leg of the third qualifying round tie between the Belgian Pro League club and the Austrian Bundesliga outfit will be held at the Jan Breydelstadion in Bruges and is scheduled to kick off at 6:30pm UK time on Tuesday.
Club Brugge
Club Brugge are a modest club in European terms, but they are one of the biggest teams in Belgium. Nicky Hayen̢۪s side won the Belgian Pro League in the 2023-24 campaign and ended up second in the league last season.
FC Bruges will fancy their chances of going all the way to qualifying for the League Phase of the Champions League this season, especially after winning the first leg of their tie against RB Salzburg 1-0 away from home.
Manager Hayen said after the game: “What pleases me the most was seeing us clinical.
“Defensively, we were well-organised and didn’t give away too many chances as we also tried to create them.Â
“The lack of depth in our game is something we need to work on. But as I said before, that’s something we know and have to deal with right now as we don’t have all players fit just yet.Â
“In the end, this 0-1 win is a good result, because we had some doubts after last Friday’s performance. All in all, we performed quite well today.”
Team News:
Club Brugge are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against RB Salzburg. Mignolet will be in goal for the Belgian Pro League club and will have Sabbe, Mechele, Spileers and Meijer in front of him in defence. Reis and Onyedika will be the two holding midfielders. Vetlesen, Vanaken and Tzolis will be deployed in attacking midfield. Vermant will lead the line for Club Brugge.
RB Salzburg
RB Salzburg are a major club in Austria and are among the clubs that regularly challenge for the league title. Die Roten Bullen have won the Bundesliga title as many 17 times, the most recent in 2023.
Salzburg finished second in the Austrian Bundesliga table last season and are facing the unenviable task of going through the qualifying rounds to book their place in the League Phase of the Champions League.
Thomas Letsch̢۪s side, though, have a mountain to overcome if they are to beat Club Brugge over two legs. That̢۪s because they lost the first leg of the tie 1-0 at home and will head into the second leg in Belgium as underdogs.
Team News:
RB Salzburg are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 formation against Club Brugge. Schlager will be in goal for the visiting team. Lainer, Gadou, Rasmussen and Terzic will be the four defenders. Nene, Bidstrup, Diabate and Kjaergaard will be the four midfielders. Ratkov and Vertessen will be the two forwards.
Key Factors to Consider
- Club Brugge had a total of 12 attempts on goal against RB Salzburg in the first leg, of which 5 were on target.
- Club Brugge committed just 3 fouls compared to 6 from RB Salzburg in the first leg.
- Club Brugge and RB Salzburg earned the same number of corner kicks in the first leg – 6.
- RB Salzburg had a total of 20 attempts on goal against Club Brugge in the first leg, of which 5 were on target.
- RB Salzburg had 46.2% of the possession in the first leg against Club Brugge.
Conclusion
Club Brugge won the first leg 1-0 away from home and are very likely to win the second leg, too, especially as it will be played in front of their fans. RB Salzburg will need an early goal to have any chance of going through, and the chances are that the Austrian club will not do so.
Prediction: Club Brugge to win 2-0
Best Odds: 7/1
Bookmaker: Zetbet