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How Club Brugge could line up against Benfica

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 March 2023, 10:59
Under-fire Club Brugge manager Scott Parker will likely be without the services of two players for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 affair against Benfica on Tuesday night.

With a 2-0 deficit to make up from the first leg, Brugge must assess the fitness of centre-back Jack Hendry, who picked up a quadriceps issue in the win over Gent on February 26 and missed their most recent defeat to KV Oostende.

Attacker Andreas Skov Olsen is a definite absentee as he recovers from appendix surgery, and Parker has openly conceded that he may no longer be in charge of the under-performing Belgian champions for Tuesday's second leg.

For the time being, the Englishman remains in a job, and his last line of defence will be occupied by Simon Mignolet, who is one of five players at risk of missing any potential quarter-final first leg if he is booked here.

Hendry and Brandon Mechele were both guilty of costly errors in the first leg, and should the former miss out here, Mechele can expect to be partnered by Abakar Sylla in the heart of the backline.

Clinton Mata and Bjorn Meijer should occupy the wide roles, which could see the versatile Denis Odoi return in the engine room alongside Raphael Onyedika, who has fully recovered from an illness.

Kamal Sowah and Casper Nielsen are both at risk of losing their places following a horrendous defeat on Friday, but Hans Vanaken, Noa Lang, Tajon Buchanan and Ferran Jutgla can feel confident of keeping their spots up front, as ex-Benfica man Roman Yaremchuk warms the Brugge bench.

Club Brugge possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Mata, Mechele, Sylla, Meijer; Odoi, Onyedika; Buchanan, Vanaken, Lang; Jutgla

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