Time for the 1/8th finals in the Croky Cup! After winning against Belisia Bilzen, Club travels to compatriot Patro Eisden Maasmechelen. The Limburgers, with former Club player Stijn Stijnen at the helm, overcame Charleroi in the previous round. You can read everything you need to know about this cup confrontation here!
The Match
Next Tuesday, Club Brugge heads to the Limburg Maaskant for a cup game against Patro Eisden Maasmechelen from 1st Class B. It is already the 4th meeting in the Cup of Belgium between the two teams. These were the previous duels:
- 2 years ago, Club hosted the Municipal Sports Stadium in the 1/16 final. After 90 minutes, no goals had been scored. Only in the extensions did Noa Lang help Club to the next round with 2 goals (0-2).
- In 2015 this poster was also there in the 1/16th final. Club then easily made it 0-4 with Hans Vanaken's first 2 goals in his debut season for Club. Thomas Meunier and Jelle Vossen provided the other 2 goals.
- In 1998 in the 1/8th final, Patro was the guest of Olympia. Blauw-Zwart won 6-0 (owngoal Schoofs, Gert Claessens 2x, Gert Verheyen, Darko Anic and Nordin Jbari).
Besides the 3 cup matches there was also a double encounter in First Class in the 1960-61 season and the teams played 3 years after each other in Second Class (1956-1959).
In the last 9 participations in the 1/8th finals, Club was able to qualify 7 times. This season Club got into this round by eliminating Patro's provincial rivals Belisia Bilzen in the 1/16th final. Within the half hour Club was already on a triple lead after hits by Ferran Jutglà (2x) and Zaid Romero. On the counterattack, Sam Valcke was able to beautifully save the honor for Belisia. After halftime, Gustaf Nilsson, Bjorn Meijer and Michal Skoras provided another spacious 6-1 victory.
Club Brugge is the record cup winner with 11 wins. But the last win dates back to 2015. Hans Vanaken can score his 10th goal for Club Brugge in the Croky Cup against his provincials. If Club can score, it will do so for the 15th match in a row. The last time Club failed to do so was in the UCL at home against Borussia Dortmund.
With Vital Borkelmans and Lei Clijsters, there were 2 well-known players who have played for both Club and Patro.
The opponent
On Wednesday, K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen hosted Blauw-Zwart in the 1/8th final of the Croky Cup. To get into this round, the club had to eliminate 2 opponents. Each time it played in its own stadium:
- In the 6th preliminary round, RUS Binche from First National ACFF was the first cup opponent. Vicky Kianjaulua put the home team ahead just before halftime. After the break, the visitors were able to equalize via a penalty kick. But Patro was still able to end the match winningly after a goal by Jordan Renson (2-1).
- In the 1/16th final, JPL club Sporting Charleroi was the guest of the mining village. Within 20 minutes, Patro was already on a double lead after goals by Jordan Renson and Bafode Dansoko. Patro also started the second half with a quick goal from Simon Bammens. Daan Heymans was able to bring something back from the spot in the 62nd minute, but a few minutes later Adnane Abid scored the fourth goal for the home team (4-1).
Patro is also doing well in the Challenger Pro League. After 13 playing days, the club is in fourth place with 24 points. That's 4 less than the leading duo RAAL La Louvière and SV Zulte Waregem.
Last weekend Patro did not get beyond a scoreless draw at SK Beveren. Defender Kjetil Borry had to leave the field 6 minutes before halftime after a direct red card.
Coach of Patro Eisden is for the seventh season in a row Stijn Stijnen (43). Stijnen made 208 appearances for Club Brugge (2000-2011) and made 30 caps for the Red Devils. After ending his career with Beerschot AC, he joined his former team Sporting Hasselt. He saved the club from financial ruin and was active there as president, sporting director and trainer. Since mid-2018, Stijnen went to work as coach at Patro Eisden. Stijnen guided Patro from Second Class Amateur (fourth level) to the Challenger Pro League (second level).
Patro has been playing back in 1B since last year. Last season the club finished sixth in the CPL, so this season the club is fourth in the standings. With Jordan Renson, William Simba and Keano Vanrafelghem, Patro has 3 players with a past with Club Brugge's youth/promises.
Keano "Kiki" Vanrafelghem (21) is the club's top shooter this season with 6 goals. Newcomer and former KRC Genk youth product Adnane Abid (21) is the club's assist king (8 assists).
Last summer, the club said goodbye to Anis Hadj Moussa. He is currently making nice at Feyenoord where he already scored 2 goals for them in the Champions League, including in last week's match at Manchester CIty.
Also among others Wouter Corstjens, Stefan Ingi Sigurdarson, Justin Heekeren, Théo Pierrot, Lesli Bamona Lubelu, Yassin Gueroui, Elisha Sam, Marius Noubissi and Iebe Swers left the Maasland club.
The club reinforced with these players, among others:
- Defenders: Kjetil Borry and Raphaël Sarfo
- Midfielders: Reno Wilmots, Keano Vanrafelghem and William Simba
- Attackers: Adnane Abid, Vicky Kiankaulua and Papa Demba Ndior
Some nice stats from Patro from the Challenger Pro League:
- Patro has the best defense in the CPL (12 goals against, along with La Louvière).
- It could already collect 5 clean sheets, the best in the league.
- And only Zulte Waregem (28) hit more goals than Patro (26 goals).
Mijpalen
- Raphael Onyedika can play his 110th match for Club Brugge.
- Joël Ordóñez can be in action for Blauw-Zwart for the 50th time.
- Andreas Skov Olsen can play for the 10th time in the cup for Club.
Referee
Lothar D'Hondt is the ref on duty Tuesday night. He is assisted by assistant refs Romain Devillers and Nico Claes. The fourth official is Tim De Keyzer. There is no VAR in this round.
The 30-year-old ref will lead an official match of Club Brugge for the 23rd time. Club's previous 12 away matches under his direction ended in 7 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Earlier this season in the league, D'Hondt led the away match at KV Kortrijk (0-3) and the home match against Antwerp (1-0).
It is the third season in a row that D'Hondt has led Club Brugge's Croky Cup match in the 1/8th final. Last year against Zulte Waregem (4-0) and the year before against STVV (1-4).