The Matchday 1 encounter of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Club Brugge (Belgium) and Monaco (France) will take place on September 18 at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Club Brugge vs. Monaco: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Club Brugge
In the last Belgian Championship, the team finished in second place and started their Champions League journey from the third qualifying round. Club Brugge confidently overcame Salzburg (1-0, 3-2) and Rangers (3-1, 6-0) to earn the right to participate in the group stage. Consequently, the team will participate in the main draw of the Champions League for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, with their best achievement being the round of 16 appearance (twice). In the previous Champions League, the Belgians were eliminated at this stage by Aston Villa on aggregate (1-3, 0-3).
- The team has won in regular time in 5 of their last 7 home matches in the Champions League.
- At least one opponent failed to score in 90 minutes in 9 of the last 13 home matches in this European competition.
- The Belgians have conceded in regular time in 7 of their last 10 home games in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Club Brugge (4-3-3)
Simon Mignolet – Kyrjan Sabbe, Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer – Aleksandar Stankovic, Hans Vanaken, Raphael Onyedika – Carlos Borges, Nicolo Tresoldi, Christos Tzolis.
Defender Joaquin Seis is doubtful for the match.
Monaco
The team earned a spot in the group stage thanks to finishing third in the last French Championship. For Monaco, this is their second consecutive season in the main draw of the Champions League. In the previous edition of this European competition, the club reached the playoffs but was eliminated in the first round, losing on aggregate to Benfica (0-1, 3-3). The team's best achievement in the Champions League is reaching the final in the 2003/04 season, where they lost to Porto 0-3. Notably, Monaco has not won in 5 of their last 6 Champions League matches (1 draw, 4 losses).
- The club has not lost in regular time in 6 of their last 8 away matches in the Champions League (3 wins, 3 draws).
- The team has conceded at least two goals in 90 minutes in 5 of their last 6 away games in this European competition.
- Monaco has not scored in the first half in 5 of their last 6 away matches in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Monaco (4-4-2)
Philipp Köhn – Jordan Teze, Eric Dier, Christian Mawissa Elebi, Caio Henrique – Maghnes Akliouche, Denis Zakaria, Lamine Camara, Takumi Minamino – Folarin Balogun, Mika Biereth.
Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, along with midfielders Aleksandr Golovin and Stanis Idumbo, will not play due to injuries.
Referee
Simone Sozza (Italy)
Matches – 17 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 69;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.1;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 41%.
Club Brugge vs. Monaco: Match Prediction
The Belgians focus on creating opportunities at home and have no issues with scoring: in their last seven home matches in the Champions League, Club Brugge only failed to score once. In four of these games, the team scored at least twice. Additionally, in this season's Champions League, the club's players have netted 13 goals in four qualifying matches. However, in 7 of their last 10 home encounters, the Belgians conceded, and in five cases, they allowed at least two goals.
Monaco is also not accustomed to sitting back and regularly scores even away from home. In their last eight away matches in the Champions League, the club's players left the field without scoring only twice, and in five games during this period, they scored at least twice. However, defensively, Monaco is rarely reliable: in their last 26 away encounters in this European competition, the team has kept only two clean sheets.
I expect a high-scoring game in this encounter, so my prediction: Total over 2.5 goals
