To qualify for the Conference League, Cercle Bruges went through a real obstacle course. Bruges started in the 2nd preliminary round of the Europa League by eliminating Kilmarnock before falling to Molde in the 3rd round. Drafted in the Conference League play-offs, Cercle validated its ticket for the league phase by defeating Wisla Krakow.
The Bruges phalanx will therefore return this Thursday to the final phase of a European Cup for the first time since 1996-1997 and an elimination in the round of 16 of the Cup Winners’ Cup. A meeting that Cercle did not prepare in the best possible way with a 1-1 split against Saint-Trond on Sunday in the championship where it ranks 14th after 9 days.
A regular in the Conference League with a fourth participation in as many editions, La Gantoise begins with a gala match at Chelsea. The Buffalos, who also had to go through three preliminary rounds, gained confidence by beating Oud-Heverlee Louvain (3-0) on Sunday in the league and will have nothing to lose on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
As for the ‘Blues’, Roméo Lavia will not be present on the field because he is not in Chelsea’s selection for the Conference League, like Wesley Fofana or Cole Palmer, the new star of English football.
