The Champions League returns for gameweek five over the next few nights, with many issues still to be resolved.
One of those issues in Group A of the competition is whether Club Brugge or RB Leipzig will be finishing third and dropping down into the Europa League. The pair meet on Wednesday night in Brugge, in what will be the deciding match.
🔜 #CLURBL Focus shifts to the @ChampionsLeague ⏳🔴⚪ #WeAreLeipzig pic.twitter.com/hF5LsuTaTp— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) November 21, 2021
🔜 #CLURBL Focus shifts to the @ChampionsLeague ⏳🔴⚪ #WeAreLeipzig pic.twitter.com/hF5LsuTaTp
Club Brugge head into this clash third-place in the group, four points behind second-place PSG and five points behind group leaders Manchester City.
The Belgian team still has a mathematically chance of making the last-16. A win could put them within a few points of one of the top two teams in the group. However, at this point finishing third behind two of the favourites to win the competition looks like a more realistic objective.
Club Brugge only need a point to confirm third spot, as they are three points ahead of RB Leipzig with a superior head-to-head record courtesy of a 2-1 win at the Red Bull Arena in gameweek two.
RB Leipzig are still adapting to the ideas of head coach Jesse Marsh. There has been a big improvement of late in results, but that upturn in fortunes looks to have come too late to see Leipzig participate in European action after the new year.
Die Roten Bullen’s recent record in the Champions League has been woeful, as they have failed to win in five matches in the competition while having conceded at least two goals in each of their previous eight outings in European football’s elite competition.
The visitors also have a poor recent away record in the Champions League, losing five of their previous six matches on their travels.
Forebet predicts that Club Brugge will seal their spot in the last-32 of the Europa League at least by recording a victory in a high-scoring encounter.