Jan Breydel Stadium

Confirmed Starting XI: Martial, Lingard and Mata start against Club Brugge; Ighalo and Fernandes on the bench

20 February 2020 by John Walker

Manchester United will return to UEFA Europa League action this evening when they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the round of 32 at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be seeking to guide his team into the round of 16 of the competition this season as it is one of two chances they will have to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season; winning this competition or finishing inside the top four of the Premier League.

United beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening, the second time they have done so at the stadium this season, the third time they have beaten Frank Lampard’s team this season – scoring eight goals, conceding just one. Solskjaer will be happy to see him team get a league double over Chelsea for the first time in more than 20 years, boosting the squads confidence after what has been a poor season so far. The last time United faced Brugge, almost five years ago, they beat them twice.

Manchester United:

Romero;

Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw;

Dalot, Matic, Pereira, Williams;

Mata, Lingard;

Martial

Substitutes:

De Gea; Bailly, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, Fernandes, James; Ighalo

Club Brugge:

Mignolet;

Mata, Kossounou, Mechele, Deli;

Rits, Balanta, Vanaken;

Bonaventure, Tau, De Cuyper

Substitutes:

Okereke, Mitrovic, Schrijvers, Ricca, Horvath, Vormer, de Ketelaere

United and Club Brugge have played a total of two matches in this history of both clubs with the first match being played in 2015. United have won both matches which were played during the qualification rounds of the UEFA Champions League during the 2015/16 season. At Old Trafford, United won 3-1 with an own goal by Michael Carrick putting Brugge ahead then a brace from Memphis Depay followed by a goal from Marouane Fellaini put United in the driving seat to reach the group stages.

Away from home at the Jan Breydel Stadium, United won 4-0 with a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney and Ander Herrera scoring the final goal of the match. United beat the Belgian side 7-1 on aggregate to reach the group stages of the Champions League. United have always done well against Belgian teams in Europe, playing a total of ten matches, winning seven, drawing once and losing twice – scoring 32 goals, conceding nine.

Filed Under: Feature, First Team, Managers, News, Opinion, Starting XI Tagged With: Club Brugge, Jan Breydel Stadium, Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Philippe Clement, UEFA Europa League

How Manchester United could look against Club Brugge; 3-4-3 formation with Ighalo and Martial up front with Fernandes in behind

18 February 2020 by John Walker

Manchester United will return to UEFA Europa League action on Thursday evening when they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the round of 32 at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be seeking to guide his team into the round of 16 of the competition this season as it is one of two chances they will have to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season; winning this competition or finishing inside the top four of the Premier League.

Here is my predicted starting XI to face Club Brugge in the UEFA Europa League at Jan Breydel Stadium on Thursday evening…

Goalkeeper: Sergio Romero

Sergio Romero should replace David De Gea against Club Brugge, resting him for the Premier League clash with Watford at Old Trafford on Sunday. With Lee Grant on the sidelines through injury, Nathan Bishop could find himself on the bench in the Europa League, which will be some good experience for him. Romero is a good goalkeeper and can perform just as well as De Gea – keeping clean sheets and helping United achieve their goals this season.

Defenders: Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw

The defence is something that United have a lot of ability in and now that Eric Bailly is back, he could form a partnership with Harry Maguire, who has been playing well this season, scoring two goals in recent matches. Luke Shaw could play in the same position as he did against Chelsea, forming a back three, meaning United can play from the back and sit deep in the opposition half of the pitch aiming to dominate.

Midfield: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Nemanja Matic, Brandon Williams

This formation may not be needed against Club Brugge but it worked against Chelsea and has been something that Solskjaer has used away from home a lot of the time recently. It gives width across the midfield also giving Fernandes the freedom to play further forward. With Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams playing the wing-back positions and Fred and Nemanja Matic playing in the central midfield positions, helping link the defence with the attacking players.

Attacking Midfield: Bruno Fernandes

The Portuguese midfielder has been a good signing for United, despite only playing two matches so far. Against Chelsea on Monday evening, he showed his class and his ability as he is settling into a new team. Against Brugge, a team he played against during pre-season, and scored, he will have the opportunity to show his worth to the club. Fernandes is a great creator of goals and assists, which will be good for United, especially when they are full strength.

Forwards: Odion Ighalo, Anthony Martial

Odion Ighalo was unlucky against Chelsea as he almost scored a goal on his debut. He should be fit enough to start against Club Brugge on Thursday, partnering Anthony Martial up front with Bruno Fernandes in behind them. United need to find the best way to be scoring goals to carry the club forward. With Marcus Rashford on the sidelines, it will be a big loss for United but when he returns, as long as he can find his form again, United could be rich in attacking talent for the remainder of the season.

Substitutes: Nathan Bishop; Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot; Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira, Scott McTominay; Mason Greenwood

United will have to make do with the players they have available due to injuries. Nathan Bishop could be available on the bench as the club third choice goalkeeper with David De Gea being rested. Phil Jones and Diogo Dalot could be the defensive reinforcement on the bench with Victor Lindelof missing the last match through illness. In midfield, Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira could be options with Mason Greenwood the attacking player on the bench.

Filed Under: Feature, First Team, Managers, Opinion, Starting XI Tagged With: Club Brugge, Jan Breydel Stadium, Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Philippe Clement, UEFA Europa League

Preview: Manchester United to continue winning run against Club Brugge; Fernandes and Ighalo to show their class?

18 February 2020 by John Walker

Club Brugge -v- Manchester United

UEFA Europa League

Jan Breydel Stadium, Brugge

Thursday 20 February 2020, KO 17:55 GMT

Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov Assistants: Dmitri Zhuk, Oleg Maslyanko Fourth Official: Denis Scherbakov

VAR: Marco Guida Assistant VAR: Michael Fabbri

Form: United may not be the team in the best form in this match but they have faced better competition; three wins, one draw and two defeats whereas Brugge are undefeated with three wins and three draws in their last six matches.

Manchester United: WDWWLL

Chelsea 2-0 W, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 D, Manchester City 1-0 W, Tranmere Rovers 6-0 W, Burnley 2-0 L, Liverpool 2-0 L

Club Brugge: WDWWDD

Waasland-Beveren 2-1 W, Standard Liége 0-0 D, Zulte-Waregem 2-1 W, Antwerp 1-0 W, Sporting Charleroi 0-0 D, Kortrijk 2-2 D

Top Scorers: United have scored more goals than Club Brugge this season but that means nothing when they go head to head. I expect United to reign supreme in what will be the third match between the two clubs.

Manchester United Goals: 19 – Marcus Rashford, 13 – Anthony Martial, 10 – Mason Greenwood, 3 – Daniel James, Scott McTominay, 2 – Own Goal, Jesse Lingard, Harry Maguire, Juan Mata, 1 – Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic, Andreas Pereira, Brandon Williams, Ashley Young

United have had a mixed season regularly taking one step forwards and two steps backwards. The 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Monday evening could be another step forward but they need to ensure they do not go backwards, like they have at different stages this season. Kicking on from here and working towards the goal is needed. Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo will go a long way to helping those goals become achievable.

Club Brugge Goals: 16 – Hans Vanaken, 11 – David Okereke, 8 – Emmanuel Dennis, Krépin Diatta, 4 – Mbaye Diagne, Siebe Schrijvers, Percy Tau, 3 – Simon Deli, Mats Rits, Ruud Vormer, 2 – Éder Balanta, Federico Ricca, 1 – Charles De Ketelaere, Brandon Mechele, Loïs Openda

Club Brugge have done well this season, at least in the Jupiler Pro League and currently at the top of the table nine points clear of Gent. They have the longest winning run in the league; four matches and have a nine match unbeaten run and have lost just one league match this season. They have reached the Belgian Cup final next month, which is another positive, however, in the Champions League, three draws and three defeats saw them knocked out into the Europa League.

Team News: Five players out for United with Grant, Rashford, Pogba, Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah out but McTominay could be fit for a place on the bench.

United will be without at least five players for the trip to Brugge on Thursday. Lee Grant (wrist), Marcus Rashford (back), Paul Pogba (ankle), Axel Tuanzebe (thigh), and Tim Fosu-Mensah (thigh) remain on the sidelines. Scott McTominay could be available in the squad for this match. Victor Lindelof was missing against Chelsea due to illness, so couldn’t be out for another match. Nathan Bishop, the third choice goalkeeper, could be on the bench with David De Gea being rested.

At this moment in time, Club Brugge have no injuries to players so look to be facing up against United with a full squad. However, there are two players that would be suspended for the second leg at Old Trafford if they receive a booking on Thursday evening; Éder Balanta, Loïs Openda. United have only been beaten on one Europa League match this season, which was when Solskjaer rotated many of his first team players for the trip to Astana, losing 2-1. Brugge may need to put in a lot of work to get the better of them.

Predicted Starting XI: Ighalo to start for United for the first time, partnered with Martial with Fernandes just behind them?

Solskjaer may not have the available depth in the squad to make many changes against Brugge on Thursday evening. Scott McTominay could be fit enough for a place on the bench, which would be good for United not having to rely on Fred and Nemanja Matic in each match, giving them a break. I would like to see Anthony Martial and Odion Ighalo start up front with Bruno Fernandes just behind them, running the show.

Match Prediction: United and Club Brugge have met twice before with United winning both matches. Again Belgian teams, United have won seven times, drawn once and lost twice – the last defeat in October 2000.

United and Club Brugge have played a total of two matches in this history of both clubs with the first match being played in 2015. United have won both matches which were played during the qualification rounds of the UEFA Champions League during the 2015/16 season. At Old Trafford, United won 3-1 with a own goal by Michael Carrick putting Brugge ahead then a brace from Memphis Depay followed by a goal from Marouane Fellaini put United in the driving seat to reach the group stages.

Club Brugge 0-3 Manchester United