FC Barcelona are returning to Bruges for the first time in 23 years. They and some 1,300 supporters are heading to the delightful Belgian city to play the fourth game of their 2025/26 Champions League journey, kicking off in the Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday at 9pm CET.

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Barça go into the game with two wins from their first first three outings. A 2-1 win at Newcastle United and a 6-1 victory at home to Olympiacos coming either side the disappointing defeat at home to defending champions Paris Saint Germain.

At the start of the week's play, the Catalans were ninth in the table, and a win in Belgium should ensure they move, at least for the time being, into one of the top eight positions that ensure direct passage into the last sixteen of the competition.

Club Brugge KV

The Blauw-Zwart (blue and blacks) is the second most decorated team in the history of the Belgian league with 19 titles (only Anderlecht have more) and the only team from the country to have reached the final of Europe's premier club competition, back in 1978 when the lost to Liverpool in what was then called the European Cup.

On the domestic front, the last decade has been the most successful in the club's history, winning six of the last ten championships, although last season they missed out on the title to Union Saint-Gilloise.

After 13 games, it's those two teams that are once again ahead of the rest of the pack in the Belgian Pro League, with Union currently three points ahead of Brugge, who beat Dender 2-1 at the weekend.

They had to navigate two qualifying rounds to reach the UCL League Phase, and did so in style, seeing off Red Bull Salzburg 4-2 on aggregate and then smashing Glasgow Rangers 9-1. Once here, things got off to a strong start with a 4-1 defeat of Monaco, but they have followed that with back-to-back defeats to Atalanta and Bayern Munich.

Most international caps: Simon Mignolet (Belgium 35), Hans Vanaken (Belgium 30), Raphael Onyedika (Nigeria 16), Christos Tzolis (Greece 28), Joel Ordóñez (Ecuador 11), Gustaf Nilsson (Sweden 8), Hugo Vetlesen (Norway 6), Brandon Mechele (Belgium 5)

Barça connection: Dutch midfielder Ludovit Reis spent two years at Barça Atètic from 2019-21, playing 22 games. However, he will be missing the chance to return to his former club due to an injury. That's not the only playing connection between Barça and Brugge, although there haven't been very many over the years.

Head to head

This is the third time that the clubs have crossed paths in Europe. The first meeting was in the UEFA Cup in 2000. Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert scored in a 2-0 for Barça in the Belgium, and the Brazilian also converted a penalty in the second leg at Camp, which ended 1-1. Barça marched on before eventually going out to Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Two years later, they met again, this time in the Champions League group stage. Barça won the home fixture 3-2 with goals from Luis Enrique, Gaizka Mandieta and Javier Saviola, and also won 1-0 in Belgium, Juan Román Riquelme scoring the only goal in that one. But that game was special for another reason. It was in that game that a sprightly youngster called Andrés Iniesta made his first ever appearance in the blaugrana jersey.

Barça progressed top of the group with a perfect set of straight wins while Bruge were demoted to the UEFA Cup.

Two decades would pass before Belgium met another Belgian side in Europe, Royal Antwerp in 2023. Barça won 5-0 at home, but lost 3-2 in Belgium, although by that time the pressure was off as they were already virtually assured of a place in the next round.

Team news

Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo both returned to action after three weeks on the sidelines as Barça beat Elche 3-1 on Sunday with goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and in-form Marcus Rashford.

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia and defender Andreas Christensen are both very close to full fitness as well, although neither will be making the trip to Belgium. Hansi Flick is also missing the services of Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Raphinha and Pedri.

In addition to Ludovit Reis (above), the home side are also likely to be without Bjorn Meijer, Simon Mignolet and Raphael Onyedika.

What they're saving

Robert Lewandowski joined coach Hansi Flick for the prematch press conference and he commented that he feels really good physically and that he is "calm" because he knows he can "help the team a lot".

The coach considers that the mentality is better, that the game will be "similar to the game against Elche", as well as being "very happy at this Club and in Barcelona".

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