The Jan Breydel Stadium is set to witness an intriguing early-season clash in the Jupiler Pro League as Club Brugge hosts Sint-Truiden on September 21, 2025. This encounter pits a Belgian giant with aspirations of domestic dominance and European success against an underdog looking to solidify a promising start to their campaign under new leadership. Will Club Brugge leverage their formidable home advantage and historical superiority to secure a vital three points, or can Sint-Truiden’s revamped squad and fresh tactical approach cause an upset?
This match carries significant weight for both sides. For Club Brugge, it’s an opportunity to build momentum in the league, especially after recent mixed results, while balancing their commitments in the UEFA Champions League. For Sint-Truiden, a positive result against one of the league’s heavyweights would be a huge statement of intent, signaling their ambition to move beyond last season’s mid-table finish.
Head-to-Head History
The historical rivalry between Club Brugge and Sint-Truiden has seen numerous encounters, with Club Brugge holding a significant advantage. Across 96 previous meetings, Club Brugge has secured 56 victories, while Sint-Truiden has managed 17 wins, with 23 matches ending in a draw. Other sources indicate 27 wins for Club Brugge, 8 for Sint-Truiden, and 12 draws from 47 matches. In 21 recorded meetings, Club Brugge has won 13 times, Sint-Truiden 3 times, and 5 matches resulted in a draw.
Recent clashes have often been entertaining affairs, with an average of 3.38 goals per match in direct encounters. Both teams have scored in 57% of their past 21 meetings. Looking at the last five competitive meetings:
- February 15, 2025: Sint-Truiden 2-2 Club Brugge
- November 23, 2024: Club Brugge 7-0 Sint-Truiden
- March 17, 2024: Sint-Truiden 2-1 Club Brugge
- October 1, 2023: Club Brugge 1-1 Sint-Truiden
- January 19, 2023: Sint-Truiden 1-1 Club Brugge
The 7-0 thrashing in November 2024 stands out as a particularly notable outcome, highlighting Club Brugge’s capacity for dominant performances against Sint-Truiden. However, Sint-Truiden has shown resilience, securing draws in three of the five most recent encounters, including a comeback from a losing position.
Current Form & Team News
Disclaimer: As this article previews a future match, the “Current Form” section is based on projected early-season form for the 2025-2026 campaign and general team characteristics from the previous season, informed by available pre-match analyses. Actual results for September 2025 are not yet available.
Club Brugge
Club Brugge concluded the 2024-2025 season strongly, finishing 2nd in the Jupiler Pro League and lifting the Belgian Cup. They also made a significant impact in Europe, reaching the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.
Entering the 2025-2026 season under manager Nicky Hayen, Club Brugge is expected to challenge for the title once again. Their hypothetical start to the 2025-2026 Jupiler Pro League has seen them in sixth place with three wins from six games, including a surprising 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted La Louvière. However, they recently secured an emphatic win over Monaco in the UEFA Champions League, suggesting they are finding their stride, particularly at home.
Key players to watch include midfielder Hans Vanaken, a consistent performer and leader, and Ferran Jutgla, who aims to be among the league’s top scorers. Christos Tzolis was a top goalscorer in the 2024-2025 season with 16 league goals and 21 across all competitions. Defensive reinforcements like Zaid Romero and new midfielder Jashari are also expected to bolster the squad.
Sint-Truiden
Sint-Truiden finished ninth in the Jupiler Pro League regular season in 2024-2025, successfully avoiding the relegation round. They’ve undergone a significant managerial change, with Christian Lattanzio taking over from Thorsten Fink in the summer of 2024.
Under Lattanzio, Sint-Truiden has shown remarkable early-season form in the hypothetical 2025-2026 campaign, winning four of their opening six league games. This strong start was, however, followed by their first defeat, a 3-0 loss at home against Westerlo. The club has seen an “exodus of talented young players” in the summer, including Zion Suzuki, Aboubakary Koita, Matte Smets, Eric-Junior Bocat, and Jarne Steuckers, suggesting a rebuilding phase. Despite this, players like Louis Patris, who provided 7 assists in the 2024/2025 season, remain crucial.
Tactical Preview
Club Brugge
Under Nicky Hayen, Club Brugge is known for a disciplined defensive organization combined with swift, creative offensive transitions. They typically employ formations such as a 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2, though historically they’ve also used 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. Their style emphasizes short passes, possession football, and controlling the game in the opposition’s half, often attacking down the right flank. They utilize a high-pressing system to regain possession quickly and launch rapid counter-attacks, exploiting spaces through wing play and set-pieces with overlapping full-backs and dynamic attacking midfielders. Club Brugge’s strengths include attacking set pieces, creating long-shot opportunities, individual skill, and their ability to protect a lead.
Sint-Truiden
Christian Lattanzio, Sint-Truiden’s new manager, is expected to implement a possession-based system with an intense pressing approach. During his previous tenure, he favored variations of a 4-4-2 setup (flat 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1, or 4-1-4-1), but has also deployed a 3-5-2 formation. Sint-Truiden often looks to attack through the middle and attempts through balls frequently. While they possess strengths in creating chances via through balls and aerial duels, historical data suggests weaknesses in avoiding offside, preventing fouls in dangerous areas, and defending counter-attacks.
Key Battles
The midfield battle will be crucial. Club Brugge’s ability to control possession and transition quickly will test Sint-Truiden’s new possession-based system and pressing intensity. Brugge’s dynamic wing play and set-piece prowess could exploit Sint-Truiden’s defensive vulnerabilities, especially their struggles against counter-attacks. Sint-Truiden’s central attacking threats and use of through balls will, in turn, probe Club Brugge’s disciplined defense.
The match will be played at Jan Breydel Stadium, which provides a significant home advantage for Club Brugge, fueled by their passionate supporters. No unusual weather conditions or travel fatigue are expected to play a major role in this domestic fixture.
