The Matchday 5 encounter of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Sporting (Portugal) and Club Brugge (Belgium) will take place on November 26 at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. Sporting vs. Club Brugge: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Sporting
Rui Borges' side drew 1-1 away to Juventus in the last round. After four matches, the team has accumulated 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw), with both teams scoring in all games. Moreover, the Portuguese have conceded in 10 of their last 11 Champions League matches. Sporting compensates for their defensive issues with strong attacking play, scoring in 14 of their last 16 matches in this tournament. In the overall standings, the Lisbon side is in 13th place, just two points shy of the top 8.
- At home in the Champions League, the Portuguese have not lost in 5 of their last 7 matches (4 wins, 1 draw).
- The team has conceded in 6 consecutive home matches in this tournament.
- Sporting has not scored more than two goals in 9 of their last 11 home games in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Sporting (4-5-1)
Rui Silva – Georgios Vagiannidis, Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande, Maximiliano Araujo – Morten Hjulmand, Hidemasa Morita, Geny Catamo, Jovane Cabral, Francisco Trincão – Luis Suarez.
Defenders Zeno Debast, midfielders João Simões, Daniel Bragança, and forwards Pedro Gonçalves, Fotis Ioannidis, Nuno Santos are injured.
Club Brugge
The Belgians drew 3-3 at home against Barcelona in the last round. The team managed to earn points after two defeats, but in the third consecutive Champions League match, Nicky Hayen's side conceded at least two goals. Club Brugge has conceded 10 goals in total, with only six teams performing worse defensively. However, among the lower half of the table, the club is the most prolific with 8 goals scored. With 4 points, the Belgians are in 22nd place in the overall standings.
- At least one goal has been scored in both halves in Club Brugge's last 7 Champions League matches.
- The team has a 7-match uncompromising streak away in this tournament (3 wins, 4 losses).
- In 11 of their last 13 away games in the Champions League, the club has not scored more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Club Brugge (4-3-3)
Nordin Jackers – Hugo Siquet, Joel Ordonez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Sosa – Alexander Stankovic, Hans Vanaken, Raphael Onyedika – Carlos Forbs, Nicolo Tresoldi, Christos Tzolis.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, midfielders Lynt Audoor, Ludovit Reis, and defenders Kyrani Sabbe, Bjorn Meijer will not play due to injuries.
Referee
Tobias Stieler (Germany)
Matches – 18 (International matches, 2024/25 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 75;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;
Red cards shown – 5;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 33%.
Sporting vs. Club Brugge: Match Prediction
Out of 36 participants in the group stage, only four teams have both scored and conceded in all matches, and Sporting is one of them. The Portuguese traditionally favor an attacking style. The club has scored in 14 of their last 16 Champions League matches, but during this stretch, they have kept a clean sheet only three times. At home, the team has conceded in 6 consecutive Champions League games, including an early goal from lower-table Kairat.
Club Brugge, including qualifiers, has conceded in 6 of their 8 Champions League matches this season. In their last 9 away games in the Champions League, the club has kept a clean sheet only once. However, the Belgians have shown good scoring ability even against high-level opponents, scoring in 7 of their last 8 matches in this tournament, with Nicky Hayen's side scoring at least twice in 5 of those games.
I expect a high-scoring game from both teams. My prediction: Both teams to score – yes
