Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
Oostende
Match Time & Date:
18/01/2023
18:30
Prediction: 1-1
Antwerp
Oostende and Antwerp, the two teams with entirely different ambitions in the 2022/2023 Jupiler League campaign, take on each other at Diaz Arena on Wednesday evening. Oostende are eager to put an end to their four-match losing run, and we are positive that they will fight tooth and nail against Antwerp. Talented forward Dapo Mebude is banned for the match, but both Thierry Ambrose and Osaze Urhoghide are back from suspensions.
The visitors, on the other hand, aim to recover from a 2-0 loss to Royale Union SG. Since both sides are likely to go for a win in the midweek clash, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. Midfielder Jelle Bataille is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while all Engels, Miyoshi, Verhulst, Vines, and Haroun should miss out through injuries for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Radja Nainggolan):
Born on 4 May 1988, Radja Nainggolan is a Belgian footballer who plays for AS Roma as a central midfielder. The combative midfielder failed to leave a mark on domestic stage, having left his first club Germinal Beerschot for Piacenza as a 17-year-old. Nainggolan soon started to prove his worth at senior level, earning a move to Cagliari in 2010.
He continued with impressive performances in Italian Serie A and eventually snubbed a number of top European sides to join AS Roma in 2014.The central midfielder enjoyed a very good start to his career at Stadio Olimpico, while also establishing himself as a first team regular in the Belgian national team, helping the Red Devils climb to first place in FIFA Rankings and also qualify for the Euro 2016 finals.
A highly skilled midfielder who does not shirk from defensive duties, Nainggolan is also famous for his fiery temperament that has seen him earn 2 red cards and over 70 yellow cards during the course of his career.
Highlighted Team (Antwerp):
Founded back in 1880, Antwerp is one of the oldest clubs in Belgium. The Great Old welcome their rivals at Bosuilstadion, the venue with the capacity of 16,144 people. Antwerp are well known for their red home kits, with the team wearing white shirts and white jerseys when playing on the travels.
Over the years Antwerp have been trying to close the gap between Belgian giants Anderlecht and Club Brugge, but they have yet to win the title in the recent history. The Great Old clinched their first domestic trophy back in 1929, with the team repeating the success two years later. The third and the fourth titles came in 1944 and 1957 respectively.
Beerschot A.C. are considered the club’s fiercest rivals, but they have a rivalry with Club Brugge as well. The club chiefs had a long-term partnership with famous English club Manchester United in the past, with Antwerp taking young footballers on loan to Old Trafford.
