Club Brugge block to St-Etienne advance

Club Brugge KV will look to keep AS Saint-Etienne's champagne on ice at the Jan Breydelstadion with the French side within a point of being certain of a place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

• The visitors could confirm their progression from UEFA Cup Group G in their first European game following the dismissal of coach Laurent Roussey, who was sacked despite wins in the French club's opening Group G games against FC København (3-1) and Rosenborg BK (3-0).

• They are up against a Club Brugge side who drew their opening match 0-0 at Rosenborg and were not in action on Matchday 2.

• St-Etienne are already all but certain of a last 32 place. Only once in the four-year history of the UEFA Cup group stage has a total of six points not been enough to qualify, with Rangers FC missing out in 2004/05.

• A win or a draw would make it mathematically impossible for the French side to fail.

• This is Club Brugge and St-Etienne's first meeting in UEFA club competition.

• The Belgian side have played 14 games against French opponents in the past, winning five and losing nine. Of their seven home games against Ligue 1 teams, four have ended in wins and three defeats.

• St-Etienne have never played against a Belgian outfit before.

• Club Brugge coach Jacky Mathijssen has never faced French opponents, while new St-Etienne coach Alain Perrin has not been involved in a competitive fixture against a Belgian side.

• Club Brugge's Canadian defender Michael Klukowski played in France with Dijon FCO, Tourcoing FC and LOSC Lille Métropole, but did not make a first-team appearance for the latter, moving on to RAA Louviéroise in 2002.

• St-Etienne boast Belgian talent in the form of striker Kevin Mirallas, who joined the club from Lille in the summer.

• Club Brugge have scored at least once in their last 16 home games in UEFA club competition, a run stretching back to a 1-0 defeat against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup fourth round.

• The Belgian side have never been defeated in a home game in the UEFA Cup group stage, though three of their previous Jan Breydelstadion fixtures at this level have ended in 1-1 draws.

• St-Etienne have not lost in their last four European away games, winning three of those fixtures. Their last away reverse in UEFA club competition was a 4-0 loss at FC Bohemians Praha in the 1982/83 UEFA Cup second round.

• Rosenborg face Valencia CF in Matchday 3's other Group G tie. København are the only side in the section not in action.