Club Brugge vs. Barcelona: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Barcelona are attempting to win away from home for the first time since late September.
Barcelona face a tricky game at Club Brugge.
Barcelona face a tricky game at Club Brugge. / IMAGO/Photo News/NurPhoto

Barcelona are aiming to secure their third win of the league phase when they visit Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Hansi Flick’s side bounced back from their 2–1 defeat in El Clásico by beating Elche 3–1 in La Liga at the weekend, but Real Madrid’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Valencia means the Catalans remain five points adrift of their rivals at the summit.

The start of their title defense has been hindered by key injuries and off-field distractions, but two more wins leading into the third international break of the season will leave Barça in a pretty good spot.

The five-time European champions were beaten by holders Paris Saint-Germain in Gameweek 2, but victories over Newcastle United and Olympiacos means they currently sit ninth in the league phase table. Brugge, meanwhile, started superbly by battering Monaco 4–1, but they’ve since succumbed away from home to Atalanta and Bayern Munich.

Domestically, Nicky Hayen’s side are trailing Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Pro League, having finished behind the Brussels-based outfit last season. This is their first encounter with Barcelona since 2002.

Here is Sports Illustrated’s guide to the game.

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What Time Does Club Brugge vs. Barcelona Kick-Off?

  • Location: Bruges, Belgium
  • Stadium: Jan Breydelstadion
  • Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5
  • Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
  • Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
  • VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)

Club Brugge vs. Barcelona Head-to-Head Record (All Games)

  • Club Brugge: 0 wins
  • Barcelona: 3 wins
  • Draws: 1
  • Last Meeting: Club Brugge 0–1 Barcelona (October 29, 2002)—Champions League

Current Form (All Competitions)

Club Brugge

Barcelona

Club Brugge 2–1 Dender - 01/11/25

Barcelona 3–1 Elche - 02/11/25

Club Brugge 6–1 Eendracht Aalst - 29/10/25

Real Madrid 2–1 Barcelona - 26/10/25

Royal Antwerp 0–1 Club Brugge - 26/10/25

Barcelona 6–1 Olympiacos - 21/10/25

Bayern Munich 4–0 Club Brugge - 22/10/25

Barcelona 2–1 Girona - 18/10/25

OH Leuven 0–1 Club Brugge - 18/10/25

Sevilla 4–1 Barcelona - 5/10/25


How to Watch Club Brugge vs. Barcelona on TV

Country

TV/Live Stream

United States

Paramount+, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, Amazon Prime Video, ViX, TUDN USA, UniMás

United Kingdom

discovery+, Amazon Prime Video, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 4

Mexico

Caliente TV, Amazon Prime Video, FOX One


Club Brugge Team News

The hosts were gutted in the summer, and are without a couple of notable names for Barcelona’s visit.

Starting goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is likely to miss out with a groin issue, while Ludovit Reis is out until after the international break with a shoulder issue. Raphael Onyedika, who impressed in this competition last season alongside Ardon Jashari in midfield, is also absent.

Christos Tzolis has stepped up big time for the hosts in the wake of their summer departures, and he’s the man Barça will need to contain if they’re to record their third win of the league phase in Belgium.


Club Brugge Predicted Lineup vs. Barcelona

Club Brugge
Brugge are without a couple of key cogs. / FotMo

Club Brugge predicted lineup vs. Barcelona (4-1-4-1): Jackers; Sabbe, Ordóñez, Mechele, Seys; Stanković; Forbs, Audoor, Vanaken, Tzolis; Tresoldi.


Barcelona Team News

Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski could return to the Barcelona XI. / Alex Caparros/Getty Images

There hasn’t been much change on the injury front for Barcelona since Sunday’s win over Elche, with Pedri and Raphinha among their notable absentees.

Both should be back in action after the international break, with the latter suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury ahead of El Clásico. Pedri sustained his knock in the 2–1 defeat to Real Madrid.

Andreas Christensen is training alone as he steps up his recovery from a muscle issue, but the Dane hasn’t been named in Flick’s travelling squad. Barça are also without goalkeepers Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen, as well as midfielder Gavi.

Pau Cubarsí and Robert Lewandowski could be recalled after starting Sunday’s win on the bench.


Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Club Brugge

Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski could return to Flick’s starting XI. / FotMo

Barcelona predicted lineup vs. Club Brugge (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Martín; Casadó, De Jong; Yamal, López, Rashford; Lewandowski.


Club Brugge vs. Barcelona Score Prediction

The Jan Breydelstadion is a tough place to go under the lights, as Monaco discovered in Gameweek 1, so we’re expecting a depleted Barcelona to suffer through periods of Wednesday’s game.

There’s been no overhaul from Flick tactically, with the visitors benefitting from facing a similarly courageous Elche team at the weekend. They’ll surrender chances to the hosts here, and Brugge, buoyed by their home crowd, can produce some wonderful attacking football.

Nevertheless, Champions League heritage should win out here, similar to how Barça won at St. James’ Park in September. An efficient second-half display may guide the Blaugrana to three points.

Prediction: Club Brugge 1–3 Barcelona


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James Cormack
JAMES CORMACK

James Cormack is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer with an avid interest in tactical and player analysis. As well as supporting Spurs religiously, he follows Italian and German football, taking particular interest in the work of Antonio Conte & Julian Nagelsmann.