The Belgian record champion lags behind expectations again. As in the season before started the purple-whites from Anderlecht very bad in the new season. After 14 match days, RSC Anderlecht are already 16 points behind last season’s champions and current leaders Club Bruges. But the championship dreams of Anderlecht have not yet finally burst.
Thanks to the championship playoffs, there is hardly a preliminary decision in the regular season in the title race. The points are halved before the second phase, which shortens the gap in the playoffs. In order for the Purple-Whites to provide a good starting position, the table must be moved further.
Anderlecht have been unbeaten in six games. On Friday night, however, it goes to the strong home “Essevee” to Waregem, where an end of the series threatens. The guests from Anderlecht currently have to contend with great injury worries and already came in the recent home game against the bottom club Cercle Bruges only with luck around a disgrace.
Zulte Waregem:
The “Essevee” should be satisfied with the season so far, considering that the team held the red lantern in the last season after 14 matchdays. With 22 points, Zulte Waregem is currently in fifth place in the table and probably remains in this season far from the relegation battle.
If the previous achievements in the form continued, can be counted on the “Essevee” in the race for the championship playoffs. So far, Zulte Waregem posted 13 of the 22 points in front of his home crowd. Before the home defeat against Club Bruges, the “Essevee” remained unbeaten at home six times in a row. Among other things, a victory over Cercle Bruges (6: 0) was celebrated.
Trust in long-time coach Francky Dury – since December 2011 in office – pays off. With manageable financial resources, the work of Dury can be proud of. In the summer, the “Essevee” has not even cracked the two-million mark in spending. Mostly new arrivals came on loan, including top scorer Cyle Larin.
The striker from Besiktas has arrived quickly in the Jupiler League and caused with five goals and six assists so far, plenty of furor. The 24-year-old is set by Zulte Waregem in the storm and missed so far no league match. With the exception of Saido Berahino, the “Essevee” has so far been spared great personal worries.
Dury will not make changes in the home game against Anderlecht. As with the home defeat against Club Bruges can be expected with a defensive orientation of the “Essevee”. In the last 13 competitive games Zulte Waregem lost only twice. That’s why it seems all the more unlikely for Zulte Waregem against Anderlecht a prognosis for the guests suffering from injuries.
Anderlecht:
In the summer, RSC Anderlecht made headlines with returnee Vincent Kompany. The motivation kick with the former defensive star of the Belgian national team did not last long. There was only one victory in the first seven games of the season.
With only five goals and just as many points, the Purple-Whites ranked in the meantime on the thirteenth place in the table. Most recently, however, the Belgian champions remained unbeaten six times in a row and moved up two league tables. A starting place for the championship playsoffs is currently five points away; Club leader Bruges even 16 points.
After manageable offensive performances at the beginning of the season, there were again sizable performances of the Anderlecht offensive. With eleven goals in the last five league games, the knot seems to have burst on offense. Monaco loan Nacer Chadli has a big stake in this.
All the more painful was the recent failure of the Belgian winger. After two missed league games Chadli came last against Cercle Bruges in the final minutes for use. Whether coach Frank Vercauteren takes his protégé in the away game in Waregem in the starting eleven remains to be seen for now.
Under the new coach Anderlecht has not yet made the sporting turnaround. When looking at the hospital, but this is not surprising. In total, eleven players are missing, including numerous top performers. Especially the failure of Landry Dimata hurts enormously.
The Goalgetter the Purple-Whites has been missing for quite some time, which is why Anderlecht in the summer Kemar Roofe committed as a replacement. With four goals and a goal assist, the new signing of Leeds United has become accustomed to the Jupiler League in a short time.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1,53
