Both still searching for their first victory of the 2024-25 Belgian Pro League season, Cercle Brugge will host Beerschot Wilrijk at the Jan Breydelstadion on Sunday.
The hosts are yet to put a point on the board with two defeats, while the visitors have taken one point from their two opening matches.
Match preview
© Imago
Cercle Brugge have enjoyed a brilliant ascent up the Belgian Pro League standings in recent campaigns, finishing 16th in 2020-21 followed by 10th, sixth and, most recently, fourth.
They had initially placed fifth last year in the pre-split season but managed to climb above Royal Antwerp and into fourth place, securing a spot in the Europa League qualification this campaign.
Miron Muslic's side are already through to the third qualifying round of the Europa League after beating Kilmarnock 2-1 on aggregate in the second round, but they now find themselves 3-0 down following a first-leg defeat to Molde.
That has not been the only disappointment for Muslic's men so far, with Cercle Brugge also failing to record a point from their opening two matches in the league, losing to KVC Westerlo and KV Kortrijk.
A home match against newly promoted Beerschot VA serves as a fantastic opportunity for the Green and Black to put their first points on the board, and Muslic will be desperate for them to secure all three.
After being relegated from the top flight at the bottom of the table in 2021-22, Beerschot VA narrowly missed out on promotion at their first attempt before going up as champions last year.
Dirk Kuyt's side have had a difficult opening period upon their return to the Belgian Pro League, drawing 0-0 with Oud-Heverlee Leuven in a game where they had just one shot and losing to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1 last time out.
Kuyt, who has been in charge since December 2023, would have taken positives away from their defeat to USG, with his side having six shots to their opponents' 10, a noticeable improvement from their opening match.
Beerschot VA are aiming solely to try and extend their stay in the Belgian Pro League this year, and points against a Cercle Brugge side that are likely to finish higher up the table could prove crucial come the end of the season.
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Team News
The hosts are expected to be without Ibrahim Diakite, Malamine Efekele and Nils De Wilde for this game as all three are set to continue their stay on the sidelines.
Thibo Somers has scored two of Cercle Brugge's three goals so far this season, and the attacker is anticipated to start alongside Felipe Augusto and Kazeem Olaigbe here.
The visitors will be without Ayouba Kosiah as the striker continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury he suffered in October, while Herve Matthys is also a doubt after coming off in the 8th minute of their defeat to USG.
Despite coming off with an injury in their opening game, Charly Keita was in the starting side last time out and found the net in the 48th minute, and the striker is in line to start here.
Cercle Brugge possible starting lineup:
Warleson; Ravych, Popovic, Utkus, Miangue; Agyekum, Van Der Bruggen; Somers, Olaigbe, Augusto; Denkey
Beerschot Wilrijk possible starting lineup:
Matijas; Konstantopoulos, Weymans, Tshimanga; Plat, Cagro, Sanusi, Michez; Reyners, Verlinden; Keita
We say: Cercle Brugge 2-0 Beerschot Wilrijk
Despite a tough start to the 2024-25 season, Cercle Brugge's home advantage and stronger squad suggest they are likely to win this game against newly promoted Beerschot VA.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
