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[monks data]
Attendance: 26,946
Club Brugge
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
PSG logo

0-5

FT(HT: 0-1)
Icardi (7', 63'), Mbappe (61', 79', 83')

Preview: Club Brugge vs. Paris Saint-Germain - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League Group A clash between Club Brugge and Paris Saint-Germain, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Club Brugge will be hoping for a repeat of their first-half Bernabeu heroics on Tuesday night when they welcome another European heavyweight Paris Saint-Germain to the Jan Breydelstadion.

The Belgian runners-up led 2-0 at the break against 13-time Champions League winners Real Madrid last month and, while the Spanish giants were ultimately able to hit back, Brugge still picked up a point which leaves them second to only PSG in Group A.


Match preview

Paris Saint-Germain's Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring against Real Madrid in the Champions League on September 18, 2019© Reuters

Results against Real Madrid have been the highlights of both these sides' seasons so far, with Brugge coming so close to a famous victory at the Bernabeu and PSG having assumed early control of Group A with a 3-0 victory over Los Blancos at the Parc des Princes.

Thomas Tuchel's side followed that up with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Galatasaray on matchday two as Mauro Icardi's first goal for the club made it two wins from two, already putting them four points clear at the top of the pool.

Another victory on Tuesday night could increase that gap to seven points should the other result end in a draw, putting the French champions on course for yet another appearance in the knockout rounds.

PSG's failures in the latter stages of this competition - most notably crashing out in the last 16 for each of the past three seasons - are well-documented, but the convincing win over Madrid on matchday one was certainly a statement of intent which would have been heard around Europe.

Le Parisiens have not been quite as dominant so far domestically as they have been in recent years, losing two of their opening 10 games, although they still boast a five-point lead at the top courtesy of victories in their other eight outings, most recently a 4-1 win at Nice on Friday night.

Club Brugge's Emmanuel Dennis celebrates scoring their first goal against Real Madrid on October 1, 2019© Reuters

The fact that those results have come while PSG have been battling injuries and suspensions to their three main attackers speaks volumes as to the depth in their squad, although Brugge will not be daunted by the test following their achievements at the Bernabeu.

Philippe Clement's side ultimately fell short of the victory following Emmanuel Bonaventure's unorthodox first-half brace, but they did show that they can hurt one of Europe's top teams and they will take that confidence into this match.

It is a confidence helped by a 17-game unbeaten streak across all competitions this season, including a Champions League qualifying campaign during which they saw off Dynamo Kiev and LASK Linz over two legs.

Indeed, Brugge are now 10 Champions League games unbeaten including those qualifiers, while in the competition proper you have to go back to matchday two last season for their last defeat - a run of six games.

Five of those games, including both so far this season, have ended all square, though, while stretching even further back Brugge have only won three of their last 20 outings in the Champions League proper.

Like PSG, Tuesday's hosts come into this match off the back of a win and top of the table, with Friday night's victory over Royal Excel Mouscron leaving them three points clear with a game in hand over second-placed Standard Liege.

Club Brugge Champions League form: WDWWDD
Club Brugge form (all competitions): WWWDWW

PSG Champions League form: WW
PSG form (all competitions): WLWWWW


Team News

Neymar celebrates scoring for PSG on September 14, 2019© Reuters

Neymar's Champions League ban - given to him for comments after their exit at the hands of Manchester United last season - has been served, but the Brazilian is now sidelined with a thigh injury.

Tuchel was boosted by the return of Kylian Mbappe off the bench at the weekend, though, and Edinson Cavani was also amongst the substitutes and could start on Tuesday amid growing speculation over his future.

Marco Verratti is another who will expect to win his place back, particularly given the absence of Idrissa Gueye, for whom this match will come slightly too soon following a hamstring injury.

Julian Draxler and Thilo Kehrer remain sidelined, while Tuchel must decide whether to start Marquinhos or Presnel Kimpembe alongside captain Thiago Silva at the heart of the defence.

Thomas Meunier is expected to make his 50th European appearance against his former club, for whom he played 149 times between 2011 and 2016, helping them to one league title and one Belgian Cup.

Brugge, meanwhile, will be without Eder Balanta and Brandon Mechele, but Percy Tau did return on Friday night while Federico Ricca is also now back available.

Captain Ruud Vormer will miss the game through suspension following his red card against Real Madrid last time out which, coupled with Balanta's injury, leaves Brugge somewhat short in the middle of the park.

PSG will need to keep a particularly close eye on Hans Vanaken, whose winner at Mouscron on Friday made it six league goals for the season, while he has also struck in three of Brugge's six Champions League outings.

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Mata, Mechele, Odilon; Deli; Diatta, Rits, Vanaken, Sobol; Bonaventure, Tau

PSG possible starting lineup:
Navas; Meunier, Silva, Marquinhos, Diallo; Herrera, Paredes, Verratti; Mbappe, Cavani, Di Maria


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We say: Brugge 0-2 PSG

Brugge have an exceptional defensive record domestically and were impressive against Real Madrid last time out, but the threat of PSG - particularly with Cavani and Mbappe back - is likely to prove too much for them. We are backing the French champions to continue their 100% start.



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