Feyenoord vs Club Brugge

Sportpark Smitshoek plays host to only a second friendly meeting between Feyenoord and Club Brugge, with the Belgian powerhouse running out 2-1 victors in their only previous such encounter in 2013.

Feyenoord’s off-season tour following a title-winning 2022/23 Eredivisie campaign was off to a flying start as they thumped fellow domestic rivals Zwolle 3-1 in their opening summer friendly. After helping his side break a six-year title duck in the national championship, manager Arne Slot has penned a new long-term contract at De Kuip and looks hellbent on maintaining his side’s purple patch. Except for a 1-0 home loss to Vitesse on the final day of last season with the title already in the bag, ‘De Stadionclub’ have been victorious in five of their six most recent outings, bagging at least two goals on each occasion. Delivering action from the get-go, Slot’s men opened the scoring within the first 30 minutes in all five triumphs.

Unlike their rivals, Club Brugge’s domestic campaign went all wrong as they finished fourth in the Belgian Pro League last term, barely securing a place in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. Ronny Deila’s team couldn’t have hoped for a worse start to their summer preps as sub-par domestic opposition Zulte Waregem ousted them 1-0 earlier in July. But ‘Blauw-Zwart’ quickly got back on track with a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over Beerschot VA at the weekend on the back of a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead. Yet the Belgians have been the embodiment of ‘Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde,’ with their last six outings fluctuating between victories (3) and defeats (3).