Bruges encounter bewitches Belgium

Club Brugge KV are looking to claw their way back into a thrilling Belgian title race as they face RSC Anderlecht on Sunday.

Slipping form
Having taken just five points from their last four league games, Club Brugge have slipped to third in the table, four points behind leaders Anderlecht and three off second-placed R. Standard de Liège. However, coach Jan Ceulemans knows a weekend win could resurrect their championship hopes.

Private sessions
Ceulemans took his players to Ostend for a training camp this week so they could prepare for the Jan Breydelstadion showdown in seclusion. Anderlecht's indifferent away form will be another comfort to Club Brugge who have serious worries over their striking capabilities.

Striking worries
With Norwegian Rune Lange on the long-term injured list and Gert Verheyen ready to retire, Ceulemans will want Boško Balaban - without a goal in 2006 - to recover his touch after impressing in training. "He is a different Boško," insisted the coach, "much better than in recent weeks."

Surprise tactics
The absence of Joos Valgaeren and Tomislav Butina provides further cause for concern, but while he is giving nothing away in terms of tactics, the coach sounded cautiously optimistic. "I hope to catch Anderlecht out with a few suprises," he said.

Frutos threat
Club Brugge's main task may be to stop Nicolás Frutos scoring. Since the 24-year-old Argentinian striker arrived from CA Independiente in the winter, he has hit seven goals in nine games to give the leaders a shot in the arm.

'The difference'
"Frutos is the difference between Anderlecht in the first half of the season and Anderlecht in the second," said president Roger Vanden Stock. "He scores and makes the team play better. In terms of quality, Anderlecht should be champions. If we miss out, it will be a huge disappointment."

'We have to win'
Vanden Stock put further pressure on Frank Vercauterern's side, saying: "We have to win against Brugge. That would leave them seven points behind us and I don't see them recovering that, especially as four of our last six matches are at home. But with a draw we could let Standard go ahead of us."

Standard hopeful
Sure enough, like two dogs fighting over a bone, the warring giants will have to be wary of Standard stealing in to take their prize while they are preoccupied with each other. Dominique D'Onofrio's men can go top with a victory at R. Charleroi SC tonight and if Anderlecht are not careful, they might just stay there.