Cercle Brugge have been drawn away to Zulte Waregem in the round of 16 of the Croky Cup. The West Flanders cup derby is scheduled for Saturday 5 December at 6pm at the Regenboogstadion.
The draw for the last sixteen took place on Sunday evening in Antwerp. Cercle qualified for this round by winning 1-2 away at Sporting Hasselt last Friday. Abdoulie Manneh and Steve Ngoura scored the goals in that match, which was the club's first victory of the season.
For manager Miron Muslic and his players, the cup tie comes at a significant time. In the Jupiler Pro League, Cercle Brugge currently sit 18th with just three points from eight games, with zero wins, three draws and five losses. The team is yet to win a league match and is on a run of five consecutive defeats. The most recent result was a 3-2 loss to Charleroi on 19 September. Their recent form over the last two league matches is one draw and one loss. The side has scored nine goals and conceded sixteen, resulting in a negative goal difference of seven. The gap to leaders Gent now stands at nineteen points.
The next league fixture is in just five days, away to Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday 24 October. That opponent sits fourth in the standings and presents a tough challenge. The cup match against Zulte Waregem therefore offers a welcome distraction and a chance for a positive result. All round of 16 ties are one-off matches, meaning a win would secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Other notable draws see holders Union Saint-Gilloise at home to Westerlo, and Beerschot, who eliminated Anderlecht, hosting KRC Genk. City rivals Club Brugge were drawn at home to SK Beveren, a match also scheduled for the weekend of 4 to 6 December. The Pro League will announce the exact date and time for that fixture on Wednesday 21 October.
Cercle Brugge will have to balance key league matches with preparation for the cup in the coming weeks. The full schedule is available on the fixtures page. The team hopes a strong performance in the Croky Cup can restore confidence for the remainder of the season. The trip to Waregem on 5 December is the next concrete appointment.
The report in full is at sporza.be
