Club Brugge wait for flagging Standard

Club Brugge KV striker François Sterchele says he expects "a war" as his side face R. Standard de Liège on Sunday in a battle between Belgium's top two.

Revenge mission
Three points clear of Standard at the Eerste Klasse summit, Jacky Mathijssen's men are looking to end the last unbeaten record in the Belgian top flight and avenge a 2-1 defeat at the Sclessin Stadium in September. "Everyone here is ready," said Sterchele. "I expect personal duels all over the park and aggressive football. I expect a war."

Gritty side
Such a contest at the Jan Breydel Stadium would arguably suit Club Brugge better than Standard. The team have hardly dazzled with beautiful football this term – instead proving an effective outfit who have conceded just four goals in ten home games. Yet with striker Wesley Sonck fit again and South Africa playmaker Elrio van Heerden back from African Cup of Nations duty, they could be formidable up front too.

Sterchele confident
Sterchele, Club Brugge's seven-goal leading scorer, is delighted to have such a strong supporting cast. "It is great to play with Van Heerden and Ivan Leko behind me, and Sonck next to me, because I am sure to receive lots of passes," he said. "We feel mentally strong, we have great confidence, and we know we have 28,000 fans behind us."

'A catastrophe'
Standard, by contrast, could have done without such a high-pressure tie right now. Captain and 2007 Belgian Player of the Year Steven Defour was sidelined by a torn thigh muscle three weeks ago, with coach Michel Preud'homme calling it "a catastrophe". That assessment may have been right – Standard have drawn 0-0 in both their games since Defour's injury.

Comings and goings
Seeking a first Belgian title since 1983, Standard now have to prove they can come good when the odds are against them. Club Brugge, for their part, are chasing a first championship since 2004/05 under Trond Sollied. Subsequently, three coaches – Emilio Ferrera, Jan Ceulemans and Cedomir Janevski – have come and gone, yet Mathijssen seems to have struck on the right formula.

'We just have to win'
"If we win, we will actually be seven points clear – six points, plus we will have won three matches more [a decisive factor in the event of two clubs finishing level on points]," said Mathijssen. "But the league will not be decided on Sunday. We will not change our ways for this game – we just have to win."