Unlucky number 13 for the Belgian Pro League this weekend. Charleroi and Anderlecht are under pressure to turn things around, while Westerlo will want to get things back on track after a poor run of form.
Westerlo v Dender
Westerlo welcome Dender to Het Kuipje on Friday evening in need of three points. The side have only won once since match week three, having won all three of their opening games. They face a Dender side who lost to second division Zulte Waregem in the cup, albeit with a weaker team as they focus on Pro League survival. They could do with striker Bruny Nsimba rediscovering his scoring boots, having only scored three in 12.
Standard Liege v Sint Truiden
In form Sint Truiden travel to Liege with every chance of finally getting out of the bottom four. They have the leagues in form striker in Adriano Bertaccini. The forward has grabbed an impressive eight goals in 10 games, with five in his last three. Standard are struggling to score and scrapped past amateur side Lyra-Lierse in the cup during the week. Sint Truiden beat the professional side from Lierse 2-0 away from home.
OH Leuven v Club Brugge
Both of these sides won their cup fixtures during the week and their league fixtures last weekend. However, they are very much at opposite ends of the table. OH Leuven have not beaten Club since October 2020 and have only avoided defeat once since then. Hans Vanaken is having another fantastic season for the away side, with four goals and three assists in 12 games.
KV Mechelen v Union St Gilloise
Free scoring Mechelen face a Union side that are struggling at that end of the pitch. Despite injuries, Mechelen have racked up four wins in a row in cup and league. Union have only won once in five, with that coming during the week against second division Eupen. Mechelen beat Union 4-0 in the reverse fixture last weekend and will be hoping of a repeat on Saturday evening.
Genk v Antwerp
A real mouthwatering tie at the top of the table on Sunday. Genk and Antwerp are the inform sides in front of goal, with the away side having scored 14 goals in their last five league games. Genk overcame Beveren in the week as they put together a run of four wins in five games. Last season Genk won this fixture 1-0, but the way these sides are playing this season there should be more goals in this one.
Cercle Brugge v Charleroi
Cercle were under pressure going into their clash with Union last Sunday, but a win there should lift some spirits. Charleroi, on the other hand, are in a terrible place. No wins in five and dumped out of the cup 4-1 against Patro Eisden, although there was certainly elements that went against them off the pitch in that one. The side are struggling to score and need to get some confidence back into the team. Daan Heymans leads the side with six goals in 12 games but has not scored in five league games. He did manage their only goal in the cup against Patro.
Anderlecht v Kortrijk
Another game where a side are under pressure. Anderlecht have made moves to shake things up off the pitch in recent weeks, but on the pitch they continue to struggle in the league. Failure to beat Kortrijk will really increase the tension. Kortrijk have put back to back wins together, albeit against a struggling Beerschot and second division side Lokeren-Temse in the cup. However, back in March, they managed to win this fixture 1-0.
Beerschot v Gent
Beerschot grabbed a much needed win during the week against RFC Liege in the cup. While they won 3-1, Gent put seven past Union Rochefortoise. They will hope everyone has packed their shooting boots for Sunday night against bottom side Beerschot. The home side are starting to see a big gap open up above them, while Gent want to ensure they don’t let a gap build up above them in the hunt for a top six and potentially the title.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
