Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko has rated his side’s upcoming UEFA Champions League clash against RC Lens as a 50/50 encounter, while midfielder Cisse Sandra has opened up on his summer departure to Westerlo across regional sports coverage.

Leko Sets the Odds for the European Showdown

Club Brugge quickly turned their focus back to continental competition following a domestic cup victory against KSC Lokeren. The Belgian champions are preparing to host RC Lens at the Jan Breydel-stadion on Wednesday in a crucial fixture. Blauw-Zwart has built a strong recent pedigree in Europe’s premier club competition, reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in the 2022-23 campaign and advancing to the 1/8ste finales in 2025.

Those strong continental performances have left the club in contention for a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, the current European campaign started with a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa on the opening matchday. Leko’s side responded by securing a 4-3 away victory against Internazionale, reviving their hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

Speaking ahead of the visit from the French side, Leko emphasized the magnitude of the fixture. “Every match is a finale, but this one a bit more so. The hope and the will are both there to be top on Wednesday against a top team from France. It seems like a 50/50-match, but here in Jan Breydel, with our supporters erbij, is alles mogelijk,” the Kroaat said.

Sandra Reflects on His Departure to Westerlo

While the first team prepares for European action, Cisse Sandra has discussed his decision to leave Club Brugge during the summer transfer window in an interview with De Zondag. The 22-year-old midfielder spent nine years within the Bruges organization, debuting for Club NXT at age 16 and appearing in the Champions League against Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé a year later.

Sandra spent time on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam and Willem II before returning to Bruges, making a total of 47 appearances and scoring five goals for the senior side between 2021 and 2026. Seeking more regular playing time, he opted for a permanent move to Westerlo.

“Because I am getting a lot of trust, for which I am grateful to the club and the coach. That is also the reason why I left Club. I haven’t regretted my choice for a single moment,” Sandra told De Zondag. He added that he harbors no doubts about his ability to play at the level of Club Brugge, noting that Leko later mentioned he would have preferred to keep him in the squad.