Club Brugge vs Juventus | Champions League | League Stage | Pre Match

Both hoping to sneak inside the all-important top eight, Club Brugge and Juventus convene at Jan Breydelstadion on Tuesday evening, as the Champions League makes its return.

As the inaugural league phase approaches its conclusion, both sides are just outside the automatic qualification places, with Juve holding a one-point advantage over the Belgian champions. The stakes couldn’t be higher as both teams aim to secure their place among Europe’s elite.

Unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions, having won 15, Club Brugge resume their Champions League campaign in sparkling form, knowing that another victory in midweek would secure at least a place in the playoffs. This impressive run has been marked by resilience and attacking flair, characteristics that have made them a formidable force domestically and in Europe. The Blauw-Zwart have only failed to find the net once in their last 30 matches, winning all but one of the last 11 after beating Beerschot 4-2 on Saturday, when Swedish striker Gustaf Nilsson helped himself to a brace. Such consistency in front of goal speaks volumes about their offensive prowess and depth.

Also 2-1 winners at home to Genk in last week's first leg of the Belgian Cup semi-finals, they are just one point behind their cup opponents in the Pro League, with a fifth league title in six years very much in their sights. For a team accustomed to success, these dual pursuits—domestic dominance and European glory—reflect their lofty ambitions and the high standards set by coach Nicky Hayen.

Perhaps the highlight of their purple patch was defeating Sporting CP last time out in the Champions League, as Casper Nielsen's late winner took them onto 10 points from six games. That result not only bolstered their position in the standings but also served as a statement of intent, showing that Brugge can hold their own against more established European clubs. Nicky Hayen's side have already won three times in Europe's top competition this season, and in only one previous European Cup campaign have Brugge managed more victories—winning five in 1977-78 en route to the final.

To keep hopes of an unlikely top-eight finish alive, they will now aim to claim Belgium's first Champions League success against Italian opposition since October 2003, when they toppled mighty AC Milan. Such a feat would underline their credentials and provide a significant morale boost as the season intensifies. All four meetings between Club Brugge and Juventus to date have come in UEFA's top club tournament, with the Serie A side winning three times so far—though they lost on aggregate in the 1978 European Cup semi-finals. The history between the two sides adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling encounter.

Like Tuesday's hosts, the Turin giants have proven tough to beat this season, and they are still undefeated in Italy's top flight after a 2-0 win over Milan at the weekend. Timothy Weah and rising star Samuel Mbangula both scored after the break to quickly avenge Juve's recent defeat in the Supercoppa Italiana. That result came as a huge relief for under-fire coach Thiago Motta, whose team have drawn over half of their 29 games across all competitions, letting leads slip on no fewer than seven occasions. While their defensive lapses have been a cause for concern, their ability to respond under pressure reflects a team with both talent and tenacity.

In addition to fluffing an advantage against Milan in the Supercoppa semis, Juventus had also failed to convert from a winning position in all of their previous three league matches—against Fiorentina, city rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole, and then away to Atalanta BC. These missteps have left them 13 points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, underscoring the challenges they face domestically. Yet, despite these setbacks, the Bianconeri are still well-placed to progress in the Champions League, having signed off for 2024 by beating an ailing Manchester City side 2-0 on home turf. Top scorer Dusan Vlahovic and utility man Weston McKennie both found the net, leaving Motta's men 14th in the league-phase table on 11 points—just two adrift of automatic qualification for the last 16.

Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen welcomed back Joaquin Seys on Saturday, as the young full-back completed his return from a hamstring injury, so Bjorn Meijer and Belgium international Maxim De Cuyper will have more competition to start on the left flank. Zaid Romero is still unavailable, though, while Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen has signed for Wolfsburg; Philip Zinckernagel, Dedryck Boyata and Kamal Sowah have all been released. Despite these changes, Brugge's squad remains well-equipped to tackle the challenges ahead. The hosts' engine room should be operated by Raphael Onyedika and vastly experienced midfielder Hans Vanaken, while either Gustav Nilsson or Ferran Jutgla leads the line up front.

Meanwhile, Juventus could give Dusan Vlahovic his first start of 2025, as the Serbian striker appeared as a substitute in Saturday's win over Milan. To date, Vlahovic has been directly involved in eight goals in 12 Champions League appearances. His presence would undoubtedly add a cutting edge to Juve's attack, providing a focal point for their offensive efforts. However, Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz—who has one goal and an assist in this season's league phase—was taken off at half-time with an adductor injury, so he could join long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik, Juan Cabal, and Bremer on the sidelines. Thiago Motta hopes to have Francisco Conceicao back in the fold after a four-game layoff, though the tricky winger has hardly been missed, as Club Brugge academy graduate Samuel Mbangula continues to excel in his rookie campaign.

With both sides eager to secure a place in the top eight, Tuesday’s match promises to be a tightly contested affair. For Club Brugge, the prospect of achieving another milestone in their remarkable season serves as both motivation and pressure. For Juventus, the challenge lies in balancing their defensive vulnerabilities with their attacking potential, all while managing the weight of expectations. As the Champions League resumes, the stakes could not be higher for these two teams vying for a spot among Europe’s elite.