Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
All eyes will be on Lotto Park when Anderlecht and Club Brugge lock horns in the Jupiler League derby. Anderlecht aim to build on a 2-1 win over Genk, but they face a difficult challenge against the fellow title hopefuls. Both Jan Vertongen and Thorgan Hazard remain in the recovery room alongside Majeed Ashimeru, while Francis Amuzu is pushing for a recall to the starting XI.
Nicky Hayen’s troops, on the other hand, produced a fine display in a 2-2 draw with St Gilloise and given their attacking potential, both teams to score betting option should definitely be considered. Fit-again Denmark international Andreas Skov Olsen is widely expected to return to the starting line-up after scoring a brace in the last league match, while important attacker Igor Thiago has joined the likes of Bjorn Meijer and Dedryck Boyata in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Jan Vertonghen):
After spending four years at Ajax, in 2006 Jan Vertonghen signed a loan deal with RKC Waalwijk. The left-footed defender spent one season at Mandemakers Stadion and he returned to Ajax for the 2007/2008 season. The highly rated footballer, who is capable of playing as both centre back and left back, signed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur on 8 July, 2012 and he has been playing for the Premier League outfit ever since.
The Belgian defender scored four goals for the Spurs in the 2012/2013 Premier League season and he made 34 league appearances for the White Hart Lane outfit back then. In the 2015/2016 season Jan Vertonghen and his teammates were producing brilliant displays with Tottenham, but the Spurs eventually finished the campaign in third place in the standings.
Speaking of his international career, Vertonghen made it to both World Cup (2014) and Euro (2016) quarter-finals with the Belgian national team. Jan was born on 24 April, 1987 and his shirt number is 5.
Highlighted Team (Club Brugge):
Founded in 1891, Belgium giants Club Brugge are one of the most decorated football clubs in the country. Also known as Blauw-Zwart due to their Blue and Black colours, Club Brugge have been crown champions of Belgium on 14 occasions which is second to Anderlecht.
Through their long-lasting history Club Brugge have enjoyed fair amount of European success.to this day in football history Club Brugge holds the European record number of consecutive participation in the UEFA Europa league – 20. The Blauw-Zwart have reached two European finals and two semi-finals so far. What is more, Club Brugge are the only Belgian side ever to play in the final of the European Cup so far, losing to Liverpool in the 1978 season.
Two years prior, Club Brugge lost the 1976 UEFA Cup Final to the same rivals. Club Brugge play their home games at the Jan Breydel Stadium, which is also home to city rivals Cercle Brugge. The two sides form a formidable rivalry contested in the Bruges Derby.