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.
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)
How to Watch Club Brugge vs. Barcelona on TV
Club Brugge Team News
Eyes on Europe. 🌍
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) November 4, 2025
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 predicted lineup vs. Barcelona (4-1-4-1): Jackers; Sabbe, Ordóñez, Mechele, Seys; Stanković; Forbs, Audoor, Vanaken, Tzolis; Tresoldi.
Barcelona Team News
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 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
READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS AND PLAYER RATINGS
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Club Brugge vs. Barcelona: Preview, Predictions and Lineups.
