The Jan Breydel Stadium is set to host a compelling Belgian Pro League clash on November 1, 2025, as high-flying Club Brugge welcomes strugglers Dender. This fixture pits two teams at opposite ends of the league spectrum, with Club Brugge firmly in the hunt for European places and Dender desperately battling to avoid relegation. The air is thick with anticipation: Can the home side continue their impressive run and consolidate their position, or will Dender pull off a monumental upset in what promises to be a challenging encounter? The stakes couldn’t be clearer, making this more than just a routine league game.
Head-to-Head
Historically, the scales have tipped heavily in favor of Club Brugge in encounters between these two teams. Across 8 matches played since 2007, Club Brugge boasts a dominant record with 5 wins, while Dender has managed just 1 victory, with 2 matches ending in a draw.
- Total matches played: 8
- Club Brugge wins: 5 (62.50%)
- Dender wins: 1 (12.50%)
- Draws: 2 (25.00%)
Recent results further underscore Club Brugge’s superiority:
- 30/11/2024: Club Brugge 4 – 1 Dender (Pro League)
- 25/08/2024: Dender 1 – 2 Club Brugge (Pro League)
- 07/02/2009: Dender 0 – 2 Club Brugge (Pro League)
- 13/09/2008: Club Brugge 1 – 1 Dender (Pro League)
A notable trend in their league meetings is Dender’s struggle to find the net, having failed to score in both halves in their last seven H2H league matches against Club Brugge. Furthermore, whenever Club Brugge has managed to score in these fixtures, they have gone on to win the match.
Current Form & Team News
Club Brugge
Club Brugge enters this match in stellar form, particularly in the league, where they are unbeaten in their last six matches and have secured victories in their last four. They currently sit 2nd in the Belgian Pro League table with 26 points from 12 matches, firmly in contention for the Championship Round.
Their last five competitive results leading up to November 1st, 2025, are:
- 29/10/2025: Club Brugge 6 – 1 Eendracht Aalst (Cup) (W)
- 26/10/2025: Royal Antwerp 0 – 1 Club Brugge (Pro League) (W)
- 22/10/2025: Bayern Munich 4 – 0 Club Brugge (Champions League) (L)
- 18/10/2025: OH Leuven 0 – 1 Club Brugge (Pro League) (W)
- 05/10/2025: Club Brugge 1 – 0 Union St. Gilloise (Pro League) (W)
Team News for Club Brugge is largely positive with the significant return of Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika, who has recovered from a hamstring injury and has been named in the squad for this league encounter. However, Ludovit Reis remains sidelined until after the New Year due to a shoulder injury requiring surgery, and S. Mignolet is out with a fibula fracture.
Dender
In stark contrast, Dender finds itself in a precarious position, currently 16th in the Pro League with a mere 4 points from 12 matches, firmly in the relegation battle. They are winless in their last 12 league matches.
Dender’s last five league matches:
- 25/10/2025: Westerlo 1 – 1 Dender (Pro League) (D)
- 19/10/2025: Dender 1 – 3 KV Mechelen (Pro League) (L)
- 05/10/2025: Racing Genk 2 – 1 Dender (Pro League) (L)
- 28/09/2025: Dender 0 – 0 RAAL La Louvière (Pro League) (D)
- 19/09/2025: KAA Gent 3 – 0 Dender (Pro League) (L)
Dender did secure a 4-2 cup victory over Olympic Charleroi on October 28th, which offers a glimmer of hope, but their league form remains concerning. On the injury front, Dender will be without Mohamed Berte due to a torn muscle bundle.
Tactical Preview
Club Brugge, playing at their home ground, Jan Breydel Stadium, is expected to adopt an attacking and dominant approach. Their statistics reflect this, averaging 2.4 goals scored per home game and demonstrating strong offensive capabilities. They will likely control possession, pushing Dender deep into their half and exploiting their defensive weaknesses.
Dender, given their poor league form and defensive struggles, will most likely set up in a more conservative formation, prioritizing damage limitation and seeking to frustrate Club Brugge’s attacking waves. Their primary strategy will likely involve compact defending and attempting to hit Club Brugge on swift counter-attacks, hoping to capitalize on any rare opportunities that arise. Dender has conceded 12 goals away from home this season, averaging 2 goals conceded per away game, which Club Brugge’s potent attack will aim to exploit.
The midfield battle will be crucial. With Raphael Onyedika returning, Club Brugge’s midfield should gain additional stability and an impetus for driving forward. For Dender, containing Club Brugge’s creative players and disrupting their rhythm will be paramount. Environmental factors like weather and pitch conditions are unlikely to play a significant role, as both teams are accustomed to the Belgian climate and the Jan Breydel pitch is expected to be in prime condition.
