Champions League
2025-12-10 - Club Brugge vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Wednesday 10th December 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Club Brugge
It is that time of the year when injuries can play a big factor in how teams negotiate the busy fixture list and that is going to be a challenge for Club Brugge. Last year they did make it out of the Champions League new Group format, and that has to be the main ambition for Club Brugge again even after a somewhat disappointing performance through Match Day 5.
The last two fixtures look very winnable as far as Club Brugge are concerned, but this one is a tough looking game for a team that is 26th in the Champions League standings with 4 points on the board. They have 4 points on the board, which is a potential concern considering Club Brugge edged into the Knock Out Round with 11 points last season.
Club Brugge have not exactly been in glorious form of late with 4 losses in the last 6 games played in all competitions. However, it should be noted that the majority of the setbacks have been away from home and Club Brugge had been unbeaten in 12 at home in all competitions before the 0-1 defeat to Antwerp.
A number of players will be missing and that includes the potential of having to use a third choice goalkeeper.
Arsenal
When you haven't won a trophy for five years and when you have come up short a number of times in recent seasons when it comes to the English Premier League title, losses like the one suffered at Villa Park will give Arsenal fans some anxiety. However, Mikel Arteta and the players have to make sure they remain focused ahead of a really tough schedule, while also hoping some of the injuries begin to clear up.
For now the attention turns back to the Champions League where Arsenal have won all 5 games played and likely need one more win to guarantee a top eight finish. Topping the Group is not likely to be offering a lot of motivation, but Arteta will want to see his team bounce back from the loss in the West Midlands and improve the 2-0-0 away record in this competition.
Arsenal had a long unbeaten run ended in the defeat to Aston Villa and they need to show plenty of resilience after dropping points over the last month. Since beating Slavia Prague in the Champions League, Arsenal have failed to win any of the last 3 away games played at Sunderland, Chelsea and Villa Park.
Riccardo Calafiori picked up a late knock in the defeat on Saturday and may be given an extended rest as he is serving a domestic suspension next weekend. A number of centre halves are missing through injury, while the manager may choose to rest Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Eberechi Eze.
Head to Head
These two clubs face off in a competitive fixture for the first time.
Prediction
The likelihood is that Arsenal are going to have a much changed team starting this fixture, but they are bringing in plenty of attacking quality.
Against a team also facing something of an injury crisis, those attacking players look like being a key difference between Club Brugge and Arsenal.
The home team have to be respected having held Barcelona here in the League Phase, but Club Brugge have lost 4 of the last 6 games in all competitions overall. They were also well beaten at Sporting Lisbon and even a changed Arsenal are going to pose plenty of questions.
Defensive injuries are the concern for Mikel Arteta, but there are still some international quality replacements that will take part. Those players may have to spend more time on the pitch than the manager would want in this festive period, but Arsenal can offer enough defensive resilience to keep Club Brugge largely at arm's length.
Players like Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres give Arsenal plenty of threat in the final third and they can secure a sixth straight win in the competition behind another solid performance.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Club Brugge 1-3 Arsenal
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap at 2.04 with Cloudbet
