Club Brugge v Real Madrid: Summer signing can make difference

The Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has had few chances since joining the club and Dan Fitch believes that he'll make the most of his likely opportunity against Club Brugge...

Club Brugge 3.20 v Real Madrid 2.32; The Draw 3.90
Wednesday 11 December, 20:00
Live on BT Sport ESPN

Real Madrid to rotate

This is a game that has more significance for Club Brugge than it does for Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League and are unable to win Group A ahead of PSG. Club Brugge are third and face the threat of losing the Europa League spot they occupy to Galatasaray.

It's likely that Real Madrid will take this opportunity to rotate their side ahead of a tough run of La Liga fixtures before Christmas in which they'll play Valencia, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao. Such is the strength of Madrid's squad though, that it should still be a strong side. Nacho and Gareth Bale are back from injury, while the likes of Luka Modric, Isco and Luka Jovic were all on the bench for the 2-0 win against Espanyol at the weekend and could all get a start.

Club Brugge's three points in the group stages have all been earned from draws, with one of them coming away at Real Madrid in a match that finished 2-2. Madrid's form has improved greatly since then, but Brugge are playing pretty well themselves and are unbeaten in five (W3 D2).

Time for Jovic to take his chance

It's been a tough start to life at Real Madrid for Luka Jovic. Signed in the summer for €60m, starts have been hard to come by at a time when the evergreen Karim Benzema has been in fine form.

So far Jovic has only scored one goal for Madrid, but this looks like the perfect opportunity for him to play a full game and build some momentum. Jovic scored ten Europa League goals for Eintracht Frankfurt in 14 appearances last season as they reached the semi-final and he is 2.70 to open his Champions League account.