Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
Antwerp will look to make amends for a 2-1 loss to Anderlecht when they host Waregem to their Bosuilstadion on Saturday. Antwerp do not seem to be at their sharpest, with the team losing three of their last four league fixtures, but they are still seen as favourites to beat Waregem on home soil. Brian Priske’s troops are eager to secure a top-four finish, and we predict that they will prove their worth on the field.
There are no fresh injury worries in the home team ahead of Saturday’s clash. The visitors, on the other hand, are on the right track to secure the Jupiler League survival. Since Antwerp want this win more than Waregem, we predict that the visiting side will return home empty-handed. Frank Boya is banned, while both Louis Bostyn and Bent Sormo should miss out with injuries, speaking of the away side.
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 (Waregem):
Over the years Zulte Waregem have established themselves as a top-table side in Belgian Super League. The Essevee are a product of a partnership between Zulte and Waregem and it has to be noted that Zulte Sportief were founded back in 1950.
Zulte Waregem impressed in the 2012/2013 Belgian Super League campaign, with the team finishing the process in second place in the standings, only four points behind champions Anderlecht. As a result, the Essevee booked their place in the Europa League group stages, but despite recording victories over the likes of Maribor and Wigan Athletic in Group D the Belgian side eventually failed to advance to the knockout stages of the European competition.
Zulte Waregem, who welcome their rivals at Regenboogstadion, will play in the group stages of the Europa League in the 2017/2018 season. Zulte Waregem, who won the Belgian Cup in the 2016/2017 season, will face the likes of Nice, Lazio and Vitesse in Group K.