Club Brugge KV vs Arsenal prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-12-09 20:00.
[p]The only 100% winning UEFA Champions League (UCL) record this term goes on the line when pre-round league phase leaders Arsenal travel to face a Club Brugge side battling in the lower echelons.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Already two points adrift of the top 24 pre-round, Club Brugge’s chances of reaching successive UCL knockout phases are waning. A four-match winless run in the UCL (D1, L3) has certainly harmed their hopes of advancing, but the Belgian side will be quick to point out that all three of those defeats came on the road, and that they’re actually unbeaten at home in this season’s league phase (W1, D1). Recent form is hardly indicative of a side who are going to extend that run here (W2, L4), yet scoring 3+ goals in their two home league phase games this term, including against Barcelona (D 3-3), is a reminder that they can’t be written off.[/p]
[p]Arsenal suffered a setback in their quest for a first Premier League title in over 20 years at the weekend, as they conceded in stoppage time to go down 2-1 away to Aston Villa. Defeat ended the Gunners’ 18-match competitive unbeaten run (W15, D3), but with five of those wins coming in the UCL, their red-hot form in this competition suggests they’re good value to bounce back. A 3-1 win against Bayern Munich on the last matchday laid down a huge marker for Mikel Arteta’s side, who have won their last nine UCL group/league phase games and could now become only the second English side in history to win ten such games in a row should they win in Brugge.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]These two sides have never previously met. Brugge have won only one of their last 18 matches against English opposition (D3, L14), while Arsenal are unbeaten in nine games against Belgian sides (W7, D2).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Brugge have faced a pre-round league-high 99 shots in this season’s league phase. [/p]
[p]Brugge have scored six of their eight league phase goals this term before half-time. [/p]
[p]Arsenal have netted nine of their 14 UCL goals this season after the hour mark.[/p]
[p]Arsenal have faced a UCL league phase-low nine shots on target this campaign.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Christos Tzolis assisted twice in Brugge’s defeat at the weekend, but a goal may be more productive given his last three at club level all proved decisive in victory. Gabriel Martinelli is chasing history here as a goal would see him become the first Arsenal player to ever score in five successive UCL appearances for the club. [/p]
[p]Brugge are without their two first-choice goalkeepers, while Arsenal are in the midst of a defensive injury crisis that could see them without up to three centre-backs here.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Smarting from Saturday’s defeat, we’re expecting an Arsenal response here and backing them to win by a -1 handicap. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]