Club Brugge KV vs Aston Villa prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-05 17:45.
[p]Club Brugge have found life difficult in the revamped UEFA Champions League (UCL) this term with only a 1-0 win over Sturm Graz to show for their efforts (L2). Conceding three times against both Borussia Dortmund (L 3-0) and AC Milan (L 3-1) meant they finished matchday three outside the knockout stage qualification places approaching the halfway stage.[/p]
[p]At least they’ve won their last three competitive matches, two of them at home including a 6-1 hammering of Belisia Bilzen in the Belgian Cup, so have some form behind them as they return to Europe. However, their record against English clubs is dire as they haven’t won against one anywhere since 1994/95 when they beat Chelsea here 1-0 in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (D3, L11)![/p]
[p]That suggests Aston Villa, who ended matchday three on top of the UCL league phase after winning all three matches without conceding, should fancy their chances. This is a chance to quickly move on from Sunday’s 4-1 Premier League hammering at Tottenham, their third competitive game without a win (D1, L2) since beating Bologna 2-0 in the UCL last month.[/p]
[p]The Villans’ only European away game this term saw them best Young Boys 3-0 but prior to Sunday’s disappointment, they were unbeaten on the road this season (W5, D1) while scoring at least twice in each fixture. Interestingly, their first-ever European game back in 1975 was in Belgium (L 4-1 v Royal Antwerp), with their only other fixture in the country a 0-0 draw with Anderlecht during their successful 1981/82 European Cup campaign.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Andreas Skov Olsen scored Brugge’s winner against Leuven on Saturday (W 1-0) with his fifth goal of the season, all of them coming between the 40th and 65th minute. Jhon Durán has scored in two of Villa’s last four fixtures, including the 2-0 win over Bologna, and all eight of his goals this term have completed his side’s scoring.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: The second half produced most goals in four of Brugge’s last five UCL games (W1, L4) and both of Villa’s last two (W2).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]