Barcelona head into Champions League matchday four in what many expect to be a routine victory — but it will be anything but easy. Club Brugge are a well-drilled, resilient side who combine defensive discipline with genuine attacking intent.
The Belgian outfit impressed in the qualifiers, sweeping aside Rangers and RB Salzburg before comfortably dispatching AS Monaco. Although Bayern Munich eventually demonstrated their superiority, a narrow defeat to Atalanta underlined Brugge’s competitiveness on Europe’s biggest stage.
Their performances so far are a reminder that there are no easy games in the Champions League. A trip to Brugge will be a real test for Hansi Flick and his men as they look to maintain their momentum tomorrow night.
Returning stars
The return of both Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo is highly anticipated, and both are expected to feature prominently against the Belgians, either starting or coming off the bench for crucial minutes. Their availability is vital: it immediately relieves the pressure on an overworked attacking unit, offering a much-needed chance for rest and rotation. This positive situation will be further bolstered when Raphinha finally rejoins the squad, likely following the next international break.
Yellow card from disaster
Two of Barcelona’s midfield mainstays are walking a disciplinary tightrope, with both sitting on two yellow cards, one away from suspension for the crucial away clash against Chelsea. It’s a setback Barcelona can ill afford at this stage of their Champions League campaign and automatic qualification.
Frenkie de Jong and Marc Casadó risk ruling themselves out of that pivotal fixture. With Pedri already unavailable and Marc Bernal still being gradually reintroduced after a long-term knee injury, the pair running the suspension risk remain the only fully fit options capable of operating in the defensive midfield role under Hansi Flick.
Managing their involvement, and avoiding unnecessary bookings, will be key. Hansi Flick may even opt to rest one of them, potentially bringing Bernal back into the squad to preserve balance and depth ahead of the trip to London.
Club Brugge eyes on weekend
For a club like Club Brugge, hosting a European heavyweight such as Barcelona demands full focus. However, the Belgian side may already have one eye on the weekend. Nights like this don’t come around often at the Jan Breydel Stadium, so the priority may be to enjoy the occasion, compete with intensity, and then quickly turn their attention to what lies ahead.
Their biggest domestic fixture of the season, a clash with fierce rivals Anderlecht, takes place on Sunday. Although Brugge hold a seven-point cushion over their opponents, they remain intent on keeping pace with league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise. That pursuit of domestic success might just take precedence over the glamour of a European night.