20:51
It is only the second direct meeting of the teams. The only duel so far was a long time ago: In the 2006/2007 season, Brugge and Bayer met in the group stage of the Europa League. They parted 1:1. Bayer ultimately progressed as third in the group, falling to Osasuna in the quarter-finals while Brugge was eliminated.
20:38
In the last CL season, Club Brugge caught a hammer group with Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig. The Belgians were eliminated as the last in the group. Things went better in 2020/21, when Brugge finished third in the group behind Borussia Dortmund and Lazio Rom, but then lost to Dinamo Kiev in the round of 16 of the Europa League. This year, FC Porto and Atlético Madrid complete Group B. Bayer, on the other hand, played the Europa League for the past two seasons. In 2020/21 it was over there in the quarter-finals against Inter, while last year it went all the way to the round of 16 against Atalanta. Now it should be the knockout phase in the Champions League.
20:22
Brugge started the new season much more successfully. The serial champions of the last three seasons in Belgium lost only one of the first seven league games, most recently there were four wins in a row. This gives KV the shared second place with KRC Genk, only Royal Antwerp is currently five points ahead. Coach Carl Hoefkens’ team now wants to carry the momentum from the league into the Champions League and survive the group stage there.
20:13
One bright spot, however, came when Callum Hudson-Odoi came on. The Englishman was signed on loan from Chelsea FC and in his first half hour in a Bayer jersey he contributed an assist to Patrik Schick’s equaliser. “He made an impact as soon as he came on,” said coach Gerardo Seoane. As a reward, Hudson-Odoi can start today for the first time. He is new to Bayer’s starting line-up, along with Charles Aránguiz and Piero Hincapié and Mitchel Bakker, who were suspended against Freiburg.
20:08
After the false start to the new season with five defeats in six competitive games including the cup defeat at SV Elversberg, Bayer wants to gain new self-confidence in the Champions League. “You can’t just put the current situation aside and forget it,” said coach Gerardo Seoane, but he is confident that this competition will release additional energy and motivation.” Bayer were unlucky to lose 3-2 to SC Freiburg last weekend and revealed weaknesses in defending set pieces, after which two of the three goals conceded came.
20:00
Welcome to the 1st matchday of the Champions League 2022/23! Bayer Leverkusen are guests at Club Brugge at the start of the new season. The match kicks off at 9:00 p.m.!