Club Brugge: Celtic’s Champions League opponents in focus

Celtic host Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are looking to add to the seven points they have gained from their opening four fixtures.

Here is the lowdown on their opponents.

Form

Club Brugge won the Belgian title last season and are currently second in the league.

They arrive in Glasgow in good form, having lost only one of their last 11 matches, and that was in the San Siro against AC Milan last month.

They have won five of their last six in all competitions, including a 7-0 victory at home to Sint-Truiden on Saturday. They have taken six points from their four Champions League games so far, with victories over Sturm Graz and Aston Villa.

Manager

Nicky Hayen was manager of Welsh Premier club Haverfordwest County in the 2021-22 season and then returned to Belgium to become Brugge’s Under-23 coach.

The 44-year-old, who spent the majority of his playing career with Sint-Truiden, became caretaker manager of the Club Brugge first-team in March of this year following the sacking of former Celtic boss Ronny Deila and was then handed the reins on a permanent basis in the summer after leading them to the title last term.

European Pedigree

Club Brugge have played more than 350 matches in European competitions since they first contested the Fairs Cup in 1967.

Their two best European runs came in the 1970s as they reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1976 and the final of the European Cup two years later.

They lost to Liverpool on both occasions.

More recently, they reached the semi-finals of the Conference League last season before losing to Fiorentina.

The only time they have previously faced Scottish opposition was in the Champions League group stage in 1991-92, when they met Rangers twice, drawing 1-1 in Belgium and losing 2-1 at Ibrox.

Players

Belgium international midfielder Hans Vanaken, 32, is the captain and remains a key player almost a decade on from signing for Brugge.

The 32-year-old has chipped in with six goals already this term.

Other goal threats include Greek international Christos Tzolis and Danish international Andreas Skov Olsen.

Former Hoops defender Dedryck Boyata is on the books at Brugge but the 33-year-old is so far out of the picture that he was not included in their 25-man Champions League squad.