Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
Following a 1-1 draw with Genk, Cercle Brugge will look to return to winning ways in Jupiler League when they take on Standard Liege in the round 22 opener. Cercle Brugge have already recorded six wins at home this season and, as a result, the bookies see them as favourites to beat the Red Devils in front of home fans. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team, but all Hugo Siquet, Christiaan Ravych, and Abu Francis remain doubtful.
Standard, on the other hand, failed to impress in a 1-0 loss to Kortrijk, which is yet another reason why we are going to bet on Cercle Brugge this time out. January signing D.R. Congo international Merveille Bokadi is back from suspension, while midfielder Aiden O’Neill is on international duty. All Steven Alzate, Laurent Heniknet, and Ibe Hautekiet should miss out with injuries.
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.