Club Brugge vs Cercle Brugge Predictions

• Club Brugge have failed to win their last two home games
• Cercle Brugge have avoided defeat in six of their last seven away matches
• Club Brugge have failed to beat Cercle Brugge in six of the last seven meetings of the clubs

Hayen loses his head before crucial clash

Club Brugge enter the final straight of an epic campaign with the title in touching distance, but opponents Cercle Brugge are good enough to put them through the wringer in Sunday’s final-day clash at Jan Breydal Stadium.

Nicky Hayen’s side are three points clear of both Union and Anderlecht, so a point will do them against their local rivals in this home game. Cercle also play their matches at the same ground, but the stands will be mainly populated with Blauw-Zvart supporters.

Hayen will be in the stands with them as he serves a one-match touchline ban for blowing his top at the referee during Club’s 1-0 win at Anderlecht last weekend. It could prove costly as the coach will not be able to communicate, even by phone or walkie-talkie, with any of his players or staff before or during the game.

Derby draws have become commonplace

And this derby has not been dominated by the leaders as much in recent years with Cercle ending a eight-year fallow patch in 2021 with the first of several draws and one win that have followed in this fixture.

Groen en Zwart have only lost one of the last seven meetings of the clubs, of which five have been drawn, and they have good enough form to make it through to the final whistle with at least a point again.

Striker Kevin Denkey, who scored his 27thy league goal of the season at Antwerp a fortnight ago, is their dangerman and he can net in a probable 1-1 draw that would be enough to secure the home side their hard-earned title.