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Anderlecht
Belgian Pro League | Gameweek 2
Aug 6, 2023 at 12.30pm UK
Lotto Park
Royal Antwerp

Anderlecht
1 - 0
Antwerp

Dolberg (45+5' pen.)
Patris (90+3')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Anderlecht vs. Royal Antwerp - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Belgian Pro League clash between Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Anderlecht will be aiming to bounce back from their opening-day defeat when they host Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, got off to a winning start after lifting their first top-flight title for 66 years in June.


Match preview

Anderlecht coach Brian Riemer reacts on April 13, 2023© Reuters

Belgium's record 34-time champions Anderlecht, on the other hand, finished a distant 11th in the Belgian Pro League last season, as they struggled to recover from losing Vincent Kompany to Burnley.

The former Manchester City defender's replacement in Anderlecht's managerial dugout lasted just four months in charge, with Brian Riemer drafted in as Felice Mazzu's successor in December last year.

The Dane, who previously worked as an assistant coach at Brentford, has managed to hold onto his job despite struggling to make a positive impact, and the pressure on him is only likely to increase after losing 2-0 away to Union SG last weekend.

The fixture list has not been particularly kind early on to the Purple and White, who will not exactly fancy their chances of gaining a positive result against the reigning champions at Lotto Park on Sunday.

Royal Antwerp's Radja Nainggolan celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on November 25, 2021© Reuters

Indeed, very few people would have predicted Antwerp breaking their 66-year duck in terms of Belgian top flight titles, but former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel worked wonders in his debut campaign at the club.

The former PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg boss guided his players to the most miraculous of title triumphs, with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld's injury-time equaliser away to Genk snatching the trophy away from their opponents with almost the last kick of the season.

Whether they will be able to replicate that this season remains to be seen, but either way they will have the excitement of competing in the Champions League for the first time in their history to look forward to, with an upcoming playoff round to navigate their way into the group stage of Europe's elite competition.

Having finished in the top four positions in each of the last five seasons, though, there is nothing to suggest that The Reds are going anywhere anytime soon, and they would dearly love to lay down a marker by defeating their nation's most successful ever club on their own patch this weekend.

Anderlecht Belgian Pro League form:


Anderlecht form (all competitions):


Royal Antwerp Belgian Pro League form:


Royal Antwerp form (all competitions):



Team News

Anderlecht's Michael Murillo is helped off after sustaining an injury on April 20, 2023© Reuters

Anderlecht will remain without Yari Verschaeren due to a long-term knee injury, while Michael Murillo is expected to miss out once again due to a hamstring issue.

Jan Vertonghen will line up against his former Spurs central defensive partner Alderweireld, with both players set to captain their respective teams.

Antwerp, meanwhile, may travel without Ortwin De Wolf, Davino Verhulst, Bjorn Engels, Kobe Corbanie and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp due to injury problems.

Gaston Avila is suspended after his dismissal during Van Bommel's Super Cup victory against Mechelen, with the former Barcelona midfielder unlikely to make many changes from last weekend's victory against Cercle Brugge.


Anderlecht possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Patris, Debast, Vertonghen, N'Diaye; Ashimeru, Diawara, Arnstad; Dreyer, Dolberg, Amuzu

Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:
Butez; De Laet, Alderweireld, Van Den Bosch, Bataille; Yusuf, Vermeeren; Kerk, Ondrejka, Balikwisha; Janssen


SM words green background

We say: Anderlecht 1-1 Royal Antwerp

Although there is little to split these sides in terms of individual quality, it is clear to see which club is riding the crest of a wave at present, with the other at their lowest ebb for some time.

However, we would not be surprised to see the two sides settle for a point apiece on Sunday, with Anderlecht particularly desperate to avoid defeat after losing their opening match.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Anderlecht vs Antwerp

Anderlecht
26.1%
Draw
34.8%
Royal Antwerp
39.1%
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Genk13101228151331
2Club BruggeBrugge137332114724
3Royal AntwerpAntwerp1372425101523
4MechelenMechelen1363427171021
5Anderlecht135531912720
6GentGent135441812619
7Westerlo135352322118
8Standard Liege13535913-418
9Union SGUnion SG133731312116
10Dender134451622-616
11Leuven133641317-415
12Cercle BruggeCercle Brugge134361621-515
13CharleroiCharleroi134271316-314
14Sint-Truiden133551823-514
15KortrijkKortrijk13427923-1414
16Beerschot WilrijkBeerschot VA131391029-196


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