Both looking to maintain their 100% records at the beginning of the campaign, Royal Antwerp and Anderlecht will lock horns at Bosuilstadion in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday afternoon.
The Great Old managed a 1-0 away success on the opening weekend of the season, whilst the Purple & White won by the same scoreline on home soil.
Match preview
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Following positive results during their pre-season schedule against KV Mechelen and Brondby, Royal Antwerp commenced their 2024-25 Pro League campaign in impressive fashion last Sunday, when they travelled to Stade du Pays de Charleroi and escaped with all three points.
It was a quick start for the Great Old against Sporting Charleroi as the visitors hit the front on the 10th minute courtesy of Vincent Janssen's first of the campaign, with the former Tottenham Hotspur marksman looking to better his tally of 21 goals from his maiden season in Belgium.
Due to there only being four outright winners on the opening weekend of the new Pro League term, Royal Antwerp's narrow success saw them up to third place in the very early standings, with only Westerlo and Gent recording a two-or-more-goal victory at the end of July.
Alongside plenty of young talent, the Great Old have recruited an experienced player ahead of the 2024-25 season, with 36-year-old Denis Odoi making the switch from division rivals Club Brugge, and the ex-Fulham right-back will be looking to win his fourth Pro League title this term.
Royal Antwerp's record at their Bosuilstadion base was very impressive during the 2023-24 campaign, with Sunday's hosts winning 10 of their 20 league fixtures at the venue, losing only five and conceding just 19 goals in the process - form that home supporters will be hoping continues this weekend.
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After a 6-2 thrashing of French side Amiens during their final warm-up fixture, Anderlecht experienced a much more cagey affair in their Pro League opener last weekend but still managed to claim those all-important three points, seeing off the challenge of St Truiden in dramatic fashion.
Despite having over 65% of the ball and limiting their visitors to only shots off target, the Purple & White looked as if they were heading towards a frustrating share of the spoils at Lotto Park before an exciting added-time moment, with substitute Mario Stroeykens netting a winner late on.
Following the opening weekend of Pro League action, Anderlecht sit at the bottom of the sides who managed to earn maximum points last time out, meaning that they occupy fourth position, already three points ahead of 13th-placed Kortrijk in the relegation-qualification spot.
The Purple & White were relatively solid on the road during the 2023-24 term and will be striving to continue that on Sunday afternoon against Antwerp, with this weekend's visitors losing just five of their 20 away contests last season - only Union SG (three) suffered fewer defeats on the road.
Making his competitive debut for Anderlecht off the bench last time out after only signing in the week leading up to the match, former AC Milan centre-back Jan-Carlo Simic is set to be a major force for the Purple & White this season as they look to win possession of the Belgian crown.
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Team News
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Royal Antwerp remain without the services of Bjorn Engels, who has been struggling with a number of hamstring injuries over recent seasons.
After keeping a clean sheet last time out, the Great Old should stick with a centre-back pairing of Zeno Van Den Bosch and Toby Alderweireld in front of goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Anderlecht are unable to call upon the services of one of their creative lights this weekend, with Thorgan Hazard out until December due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Marco Kana failed to featured in any of the Purple & White's pre-season action following an injury sustained in early May, and the midfielder is a doubt for this match.
The hosts are short of options on the left flank due to the absence of Francis Amuzu, who suffered a knee injury during the summer schedule.
Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:
Lammens; Bataille, Alderweireld, Van Den Bosch, Costa; Odoi, Doumbia; Chery, Ekkelenkamp, Balikwisha; Janssen
Anderlecht possible starting lineup:
Coosemans; Sardella, N'Diaye, Vertonghen, Ashimeru; Leoni, Rits, Verschaeren; Dreyer, Angulo, Dolberg
We say: Royal Antwerp 1-1 Anderlecht
After recording hard-fought wins on the opening weekend, both Royal Antwerp and Anderlecht will be desperate to avoid suffering their first defeats of the season.
Two defensively-solid outfits could provide a cagey affair on Sunday afternoon, when we expect the Great Old and the Purple & White to ultimately share the spoils.
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Carter White
