Club Brugge v Barça: Did you know?
This Wednesday FC Barcelona are in the charming Belgian city of Bruges for a 9pm kick-off in the Champions League, knowing that three points would be a huge boost to their chances of a top eight finish and direct passage to the last sixteen. Here are five key things you'll need to know ahead of the match:
1. Re-encounter
In four meetings in the past, Barça have beaten Club Brugge three times and lost once. The last time they played was in 2002, when the Catalans won 1-0 away from home. The last time Barça played a Belgian team was under Xavi two years ago, a 3-2 defeat at the home of Royal Antwerp.
2. Barça scoring high
Barça is the highest scoring team this season out of all clubs in the Champions League. Across all competitions they have already netted 52 times, one more than PSG with 51 while the German duo of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have 43 each.
3. Historic Cubarsí
If he plays today, centre back Pau Cubarsí will become just the third player to appear in twenty Champions League games before the age of 19. His team-mate Lamine Yamal and Warren Zaïre-Emery of PSG are the only other players to have achieved the feat.
4. Rashford on form
Marcus Rashford is the third highest scorer in the current Champions League with four goals, the same as Erling Haaland of Man City and Anthony Gordon of Newcastle and one less than Harry Kane of Bayern and Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid with five each. Barça's Englishman claimed braces against Newcastle and Olympiacos.
5. Club Brugge spreading the goals
The Belgians have scored five goals in the competition so far, and it's been a different man each time (Tresoldi, Onyedika, Vanaken, Diakhon and Tzolis). The side coached by Nicky Hayen is currently second in the Belgian Pro League with nine wins, two draws and two defeats.