Leicester City will make their UEFA Champions League debut on Wednesday evening, when they take on Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
The Foxes’ remarkable achievements last term saw them qualify for the Champions League in April with five Premier League fixtures still to play, before being drawn in Group G alongside Club Brugge, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen late last month.
Claudio Ranieri’s men will aim to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield with a positive result in Belgium.
Defender Danny Simpson will be assessed ahead of the game after picking up a knock against Liverpool, as will Nampalys Mendy and Jeffrey Schlupp.
Jupiler Pro League outfit Club Brugge booked their spot in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League after storming to a 14th first division title last term.
The Belgian champions have had a difficult start to the new campaign, losing three of their opening five fixtures, including a 1-0 defeat to Waasland-Beveren last time out.
Club Brugge recorded their only victory of the season against Lokeren in mid-August, when Lior Refaelov netted the only goal of the game to help his side to a 1-0 win.
Wednesday’s opponents reached the final of the European Cup in 1978, when they were beaten by Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
WeSaid_MP
Reflecting on Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri said: “Now we have to clear our minds and understand that in football we have to be strong, determined, aggressive and reactive.
“This evening, Liverpool were better than us. Now we must clear our mind and think about the next match in the Champions League.
“We expected this kind of football and this performance from Liverpool. It was their first game at home and they were determined. More than us. They deserved to win.
“We started well in the first 10 minutes before they scored. We were in good shape and closed very well the space. After the first goal we lost our shape and they got better and increased the momentum.”
Of Club Brugge’s four Jupiler Pro League goals this term, defender Bjorn Engels has scored one and set up another.
The 21-year-old centre back has notched over 50 appearances and scored 10 times for Club Brugge having made his debut in the UEFA Europa League in August 2013.
Engels’ talents have also been recognised by the Belgium national team. He made nine appearances at youth level, before being called up to the senior squad in March.
A source of goals from defence, the Foxes will need to keep an eye on Engels’ threat from set-plays on Wednesday evening.
The Foxes’ remarkable achievements last term saw them qualify for the Champions League in April with five Premier League fixtures still to play, before being drawn in Group G alongside Club Brugge, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen late last month.
Claudio Ranieri’s men will aim to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield with a positive result in Belgium.
Defender Danny Simpson will be assessed ahead of the game after picking up a knock against Liverpool, as will Nampalys Mendy and Jeffrey Schlupp.
Jupiler Pro League outfit Club Brugge booked their spot in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League after storming to a 14th first division title last term.
The Belgian champions have had a difficult start to the new campaign, losing three of their opening five fixtures, including a 1-0 defeat to Waasland-Beveren last time out.
Club Brugge recorded their only victory of the season against Lokeren in mid-August, when Lior Refaelov netted the only goal of the game to help his side to a 1-0 win.
Wednesday’s opponents reached the final of the European Cup in 1978, when they were beaten by Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
WeSaid_MP
Reflecting on Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri said: “Now we have to clear our minds and understand that in football we have to be strong, determined, aggressive and reactive.
“This evening, Liverpool were better than us. Now we must clear our mind and think about the next match in the Champions League.
“We expected this kind of football and this performance from Liverpool. It was their first game at home and they were determined. More than us. They deserved to win.
“We started well in the first 10 minutes before they scored. We were in good shape and closed very well the space. After the first goal we lost our shape and they got better and increased the momentum.”
Of Club Brugge’s four Jupiler Pro League goals this term, defender Bjorn Engels has scored one and set up another.
The 21-year-old centre back has notched over 50 appearances and scored 10 times for Club Brugge having made his debut in the UEFA Europa League in August 2013.
Engels’ talents have also been recognised by the Belgium national team. He made nine appearances at youth level, before being called up to the senior squad in March.
A source of goals from defence, the Foxes will need to keep an eye on Engels’ threat from set-plays on Wednesday evening.
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