GENT VS OOSTENDE PREVIEW & PREDICTION
Ghent is allowed to compete against Ostend in its last home match of the regular season. Both teams took eight out of twelve and will gladly continue this undefeated series.
Gent :
In Ghent there is no more dirt in the air for the time being. They have been unbeaten for seven matches in a row and are now firmly in fourth place. The second place is barely three points away and so it is important to get as many points as possible in the last two matches of the regular season. Afterwards it can then start playing without any complexes Play-off 1, in which nothing should be allowed but everything is allowed.
Gent visited the Waasland last weekend where the Waasland-Beveren party gave. Ghent did not start well with the party and it was a mercenary of the Buffalo’s that formed the basis of the early arrears. Waasland-Beveren was sharper in all areas and AA Gent was even less concentrated on the field than the match against STVV. Beveren had chances on the 2-0, but quietly let Ghent enter the game. On a corner by Samuel Kalu, Dylan Bronn can nod the goal of hope into goal. Ghent continued to press and Giorgi Chakvetadze crowned his excellent incursion with a beautiful assist for Roman Yaremchuk. AA Gent stole the victory on a thief.
AA Gent started dramatically for the second week in a row, and for the second week in a row it was the young Chakvetadze who broke out as a substitute. In addition to attacking flashes, he also carried ball-resistance on a midfield that lay underneath for the rest. Birger Verstraete could not have been anything but impressed. “He is fantastic, really. There are some beauty flaws here and there and he sometimes runs a little too much with his ball, but if you see what he can do at age eighteen. I am a big fan, “he continued.
Oostende :
For Ostend, a quiet season end follows after a particularly turbulent year. The chairman change is behind us and in Play-off 2 KVO can polish the blazon (a bit). In the regular season there will be matches against Ghent (out) and Standard (home). This weekend KVO will do without Aristote Nkaka, as he picked up a red card last week in the final seconds.
Ostend was visited by Sint-Truiden on the previous day of play. We did not see a typical end of season competition, but a nice pot of football. STVV actually had to win to keep a look at Play-off 1, but after half an hour it looked undeserved against a double deficit. At Oostende Alexandar Bjelica was on the cannon twice. STVV was better in the match, but missed Jorge Teixeira in the back.
For Bjelica, the match against STVV became a first: for the first time, he scored twice in one match. And that for half a defender. ‘As backs we have freedom from the coach. I have been looking at Brecht Capon the last few months, because he was looking for that space more and could score a few times. Now I do it too. I can not remember that I ever made two. It is special, I have to admit. Although we continue to defend our first task and only then attack. ‘
PREDICTION: Gent to win @ 1.56
