Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
All eyes will be on Jan Breydel Stadion when Club Brugge and Standard Liege face each other in the Jupiler League derby on Sunday. The reigning champions suffered yet another embarrassing defeated at the weekend, with the team losing to Oostende (0-3), meaning that the lack of confidence could prove to be a big problem for the home side. Both Hendry and Skov Olsen are sidelined with injuries, while Odoi is pushing for a start after coming as a substitute in the Champions League defeat to Benfica.
The Red Devils, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-0 win over Westerlo. Standard Liege aim to climb to top four in the standings, and given their attacking potential, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. Gilles Dewaele is sidelined with injury, while Nathan Ngoy faces race against the clock to be fit for the derby.
Highlighted Player (Simon Mignolet):
Simon Luc Hildebert Mignolet is a Belgium goalkeeper born on 6 March 1988 in Sint-Truiden. He began his career in a club from his hometown, making 100 league appearances for Sint-Truidense before moving to Sunderland in 2010.
Mignolet would go on to spent next four years at the Stadium of Light, making 90 Premier League appearances. As one of world’s most talented goalkeepers, the Belgium international signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2013, and he has since been the club’s first choice goalkeeper. Performing admirably most of the time, but also committing cheap mistakes at times, Mignolet has yet to win over the Liverpool fans, but remains highly regarded in his native country.
The talented shot-stopper has been a member of the Belgium national team since 2011, earning over 20 caps for the Red Devils, but he has been playing second fiddle to Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois over the last few years.
Highlighted Team (St Liege):
Standard are a Belgian football club based in Liege. The club was founded back in 1898 and 11 years later they joined Belgian First League. Les Rouches (the Reds) immediately dropped to the lower leagues, but in 1921 they returned to the Belgian top flight. Standard won their first Belgian League trophy in 1958, but you should have in mind that they were level on points with second-placed Royal Antwerp.
In 2009 the Reds clinched their tenth domestic title, beating Anderlecht in the title game. Talented midfielder Axel Witsel scored the winner for Standard in the 1-0 triumph over their bitter rivals. Standard play their home games at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, the venue that was opened in 1909. The capacity of the stadium is 30 023.
Maurice Dufrasne was the club’s chairman from 1909 until 1931. Speaking of the club’s European success, Standard participated in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1982, losing to La Liga giants Barcelona in the title game.