Lens will be without Maik Nawrocki and Abdallah Sima for Wednesday’s Champions League game at Club Brugge. Jonathan Gradit and Ismaelo Ganiou are also expected to miss the trip to Belgium. Club Brugge’s main confirmed absentee is centre-back Joel Ordonez, so Lens have the more complicated selection picture.
The two sides meet at Jan Breydelstadion on 21 October, with kick-off at 21:00 local time. Both teams have three points from their first two league-phase matches, which makes the third round a useful chance to move up the table.
Club Brugge team news
Ordonez is out with a foot injury, described in previews as a metatarsal fracture. UEFA’s matchday team news and predicted lineups lists the Ecuadorian as Club Brugge’s confirmed absentee. It also expects Ivan Leko to have his other main options available.
Left-back Bjorn Meijer is a separate case. A Sports Mole match preview reports that he has a thigh problem, but UEFA names only Ordonez as a confirmed absence. Meijer’s status is a reported concern and not a settled detail.
Nicolo Tresoldi is expected to lead the attack after scoring a hat-trick in the 3-4 win away to Inter Milan. Carlos Forbs is also tipped to start after an influential showing in that game, with Hans Vanaken expected to play behind Tresoldi. Club Brugge made several changes for their 1-0 Belgian Cup win over Lokeren, so a stronger side is expected for the European match.
The predicted Club Brugge XI in a 4-2-3-1 is: Yann Sommer, Kyriani Sabbe, Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys, Freddie Potts, Hugo Vetlesen, Carlos Forbs, Hans Vanaken, Jan Virgili, Nicolo Tresoldi.
Lens team news
Lens coach Yannick Cahuzac confirmed in the club’s official pre-match briefing that Nawrocki and Sima are still injured. Gradit has returned to individual training, while Ganiou was due to have further checks. Cahuzac said both defenders were expected back in group training on Thursday, which is after the Brugge game.
Ruben Aguilar is another name to watch. A matchday preview reported that the right-back has an ankle problem and remains doubtful. His availability could affect Lens’s choices in the defensive line and in wide areas.
Reports also conflict over Jean-Clair Todibo. UEFA includes him in its predicted lineup, but Maxifoot’s matchday preview says he is suspended. His status should not be treated as settled until the official teams are announced.
Florian Thauvin is expected to play a key attacking role, either behind or alongside the centre-forward. Junior Kadile is also in contention. Franjo Ivanović and Odsonne Édouard are the main candidates to lead the line in published predictions.
The predicted Lens XI in a 3-4-2-1 is: Robin Risser, Kyllian Antonio, Samson Baidoo, Jean-Clair Todibo, Saud Abdulhamid, Michael Cuisance, Amadou Haidara, Matthieu Udol, Florian Thauvin, Junior Kadile, Franjo Ivanovic
This prediction is provisional, mainly because of the conflicting reports about Todibo and the doubt over Aguilar.
Form before the match
Club Brugge began their Champions League campaign with a 2-3 home defeat to Aston Villa. They then won 3-4 at Inter. Lens opened with a 2-3 away win at Slavia Prague, then lost 0-2 at home to Sporting CP. They returned to winning ways in their domestic league with a 1-3 away victory over Troyes on 17 October.
Cahuzac has warned that Brugge carry a strong attacking threat. He pointed to their performance at Inter and their scoring record in Belgium. Lens defender Matthieu Udol said his team had studied Brugge’s strengths and needed to defend more consistently.
The official starting XIs have not been confirmed. Todibo’s status and Aguilar’s fitness are the main selection points to check when the teams are released.
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