Manchester United have been handed a testing draw in the Champions League play-off round, needing to defeat Club Brugge over two legs to progress to the group stage.
United have never faced the Belgian side before, so here’s a handy guide for those unfamiliar with their strengths…
Top Scorer
Club Brugge have had their fair share of elite strikers over the years, with Colombian star Carlos Bacca and former Chelsea frontman Eidur Gudjohnsen both turning out in the club’s black and blue strip.
But it is Bacca’s compatriot Jose Izquierdo who United need to keep tabs on.
Izquierdo hit double figures in his first season in Belgium, and will look to capitalise on a United back-line which offers plenty of cause for concern.
Good draw for United but watch out for Jose Izquierdo…after Bacca looks like Brugge have found another Colombian goal machine…
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) August 7, 2015
Biggest Threat
While Izquierdo did the business domestically, Lior Refaelov was the man to watch in Europe last season.
The Israeli attacking midfielder found the net six times in last season’s Europa League run, including an impressive hat-trick away at FC Copenhagen in the group stages – not bad for a player who cost less than £2m from Maccabi Tel-Aviv back in 2011.
After turning down a big-money move to China over the summer he’ll be keen to demonstrate that he made the right decision staying in Europe.
Manager
Michel Preud’homme is a name that will be familiar to English fans of a certain age.
The former Belgian international goalkeeper was between the sticks when David Platt scored his famous goal for England at the 1990 World Cup, and has carved out an impressive managerial career since hanging up his gloves.
Preud’homme has won trophies in three different countries, returning to Belgium after winning the Saudi Premier League with Al-Shabab.
European Pedigree
Club Brugge have not reached the Champions League proper since the 2005/06 season, when they finished third behind Juventus and Bayern Munich in an unforgiving group.
They have fallen in the group stages on three other occasions, but have not made the knockout rounds since the European Cup became the Champions League in 1992/93.
Last Season
The Belgians’ Europa League form since then has been patchy, but last season’s quarter-final run certainly caught the eye.
After easing past Aalborg in the round of 32 they stunned Liverpool’s conquerors Besiktas by winning both legs of their meeting, before falling to eventual finalists Dnipro in the quarter-finals.
United should not take this test lightly, especially as they try to integrate their new signings.
