Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
Charleroi will look to make amends for a 2-0 loss to Cercle Brugge when they welcome Standard Liege to their Stade du Pays de Charleroi on Matchday 3. The Black and Whites are eager to record their first win of the season and we are positive that they will adopt an offensive strategy against the Red Devils. There are no injury worries in the home team ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
Meanwhile, Standard Liege are no longer regarded as one of the teams to beat in the Belgian top flight and given their often difficulties on the road, we are tempted to put our money on Charleroi. To make things even worse for the away team, important forward William Balikwisha misses out through suspension, while defender Gilles Dewaele has yet to overcome his injury. In their last meeting in the Jupiler League Standard defeated Charleroi 3-1, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge.
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.