The Jan Breydel Stadium will be rocking tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as Club Brugge hosts Olympique de Marseille in a high-stakes final league phase fixture. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (21:00 local / 15:00 ET).
This is a true "six-pointer" for European survival. Marseille sits in 19th place (9 points) and needs a result to secure their spot in the knockout playoffs. Club Brugge enters in 27th place (7 points), knowing that only a victory will give them a realistic chance of leaping into the top 24 and extending their Champions League journey.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | UEFA Champions League (Matchday 8) |
| Date | Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET |
| Venue | Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges |
| Referee | Marco Guida (ITA) |
| TV Channel | Discovery+ (UK) / Paramount+ (US) / Canal+ (France) |
Club Brugge: The Belgian Resistance
Under the guidance of Ivan Leko, Club Brugge has found their scoring boots at the perfect time. After a 4–1 dismantling of Kairat Almaty last week and a chaotic 4–3 domestic win over Zulte Waregem, the "Blauw-Zwart" are playing with a "nothing to lose" mentality.
Team News and Selection:
Major Miss: The hosts will be without star winger Christos Tzolis, who is sidelined with a persistent back injury.
Midfield Engine: Raphael Onyedika returned to the lineup over the weekend and will be vital in disrupting Marseille’s rhythm.
The "Vanaken" Factor: Captain Hans Vanaken remains the heartbeat of the side, having already recorded two goals and three assists in this Champions League campaign.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jackers; Sabbe, Ordoñez, Mechele, Seys; Stanković, Onyedika; Forbs, Vanaken, Diakhon; Vermant.
Marseille: De Zerbi’s Mission
Roberto De Zerbi has brought his signature high-octane football to the Vélodrome, but consistency in Europe has been elusive. While a 3–0 loss to Liverpool last week stung, their clinical 3–1 victory over Lens this past Saturday proved that Les Olympiens can still out-gun the best.
Team News and Selection:
Defensive Blow: Veteran defender Benjamin Pavard is suspended after picking up his third yellow card against Liverpool.
Transfer Impact: Recent signing Quinten Timber (from Feyenoord) is expected to start in midfield, adding much-needed steel.
Goal Threats: Mason Greenwood and Amine Gouiri are in peak form, with Gouiri coming off a brilliant brace over the weekend
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Aguerd, Medina; Højbjerg, Timber, O'Riley; Greenwood, Gouiri, Paixão.
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Historic Edge: Marseille has won both of their previous competitive meetings against Club Brugge, though those dates back to their 1993 Champions League winning campaign.
Goal Fest: 15 of Club Brugge's last 16 Champions League matches have seen over 2.5 goals.
Late Bloomers: Brugge has scored 50% of their European goals this season in the 15 minutes immediately preceding halftime.
Rulli’s Wall: Marseille’s Gerónimo Rulli has made 34 saves in the league phase so far, the second-most in the competition.
Tactical Analysis and Prediction
Club Brugge will look to turn the Jan Breydel into a pressure cooker, utilizing Carlos Forbs' pace on the break to test Marseille's high defensive line. However, their own defensive fragility (conceding 17 goals in 7 games) is a massive concern against an attack featuring Greenwood and Gouiri.
Marseille will aim to dominate possession through Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, but without Pavard, they may be vulnerable to direct balls over the top. If De Zerbi's side can survive the early home-crowd intensity, their superior individual quality in the final third should eventually tell.
Final Score Prediction: Club Brugge 2–2 Marseille
