European Cup: Club Brugge just 90 minutes away from the Champions League

Belgium will soon know! At home against Glasgow Rangers, can Club Brugge allow the Jupiler Pro League to have two teams in the Champions League group stage?

This feat has only happened twice, in 2005-2006 and 2019-2020. As Belgium’s vice-champion, Brugge looks on track to join Union, already directly qualified. But first they must finish the job against the Scots.

On Thursday, the task looks far more dangerous for Anderlecht. The Mauves are still haunted by their elimination at Häcken a month ago in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. Relegated to the Conference League, Besnik Hasi’s men are now standing on the edge.

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Brugge has no excuses

The sun has broken through again over the Venice of the North. A week ago, before the trip to Ibrox Park for the €40 million match, Nicky Hayen still rated it 50-50 between his side and their opponent. But in Glasgow, the Brugge side dominated the Rangers in the Champions League playoffs.

Through Vermant, Spileers and Mechele, the Belgians led by three goals before conceding one back and nearly collapsing late on, with a goal eventually disallowed by French referee Letexier.

With a two-goal lead, the Blauw en Zwart can breathe. But not too much. “The club belongs in the Champions League. We’ve earned that place in recent years thanks to our performances. We have a two-goal advantage, but you also saw the previous home game against RB Salzburg, where we were 0-2 down. We must stay focused,” analysed the coach in the press conference.

All the more as Rangers are not giving up, even if they dropped a poor 1-1 draw against modest Saint-Mirren in the league last weekend. “Of course we’re two goals behind and Club is a good team, but we must build on the second half from last week. Then Club were shaken. I hope we made them doubt,” said British coach Russell Martin.

So, who will triumph and reach the most prestigious of European competitions?

Odds are subject to change. Event ends: August 27 at 9pm.

Anderlecht: qualification or crisis

For the Brussels side, it’s simply their entire European season at stake. Although they were stronger than the Greeks in the first leg, they could only manage a draw at Lotto Park. And the trip to Athens promises to be fiery with very passionate supporters in the stands.

For Besnik Hasi, it remains a bitter memory. Eight years ago, the coach was dismissed by Olympiakos after a defeat in Athens. Those memories could resurface! Indeed, it is hard to imagine how the RSCA coach could survive both a European elimination and a defeat against Union this Sunday.

Yet Anderlecht also have reasons to be optimistic. Dolberg has returned to form, and his partnership with Bertaccini could wreak havoc against a defense that showed its weaknesses last Thursday.

Qualification is in any case essential for the Belgian coefficient, already weakened by Charleroi’s elimination in the second qualifying round of the Conference League against a beatable Hammarby side.

So, will our Jupiler Pro League be able to boast of having Anderlecht in the group stage, while Genk looks set to qualify for the Europa League after their 1-4 win at Lech Poznan? Answer this Thursday evening.

Odds are subject to change. Event ends: August 27 at 8pm.