Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
Mechelen play host to Standard Liege at their AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne on the last day of the season. Mechelen aim to build on a 2-0 win over Westerlo and they are surely capable of beating Standard, who produced an under-par performance in a 4-1 defeat to Gent. Both Gaetan Coucke and Toon Raemaekers remain in the recovery room, while Elias Cobbaut is unlikely to be risked.
The Red Devils, on the other hand, seem to be already on vacation and given their difficulties at the back, we predict that the hosts are going to emerge triumphant in Saturday’s encounter. As for the visitors, all Aiden O’Neill, Zinho Vanheusden, Merveille Bokadi, Laurent Henkinet, and Nathan Ngoy should miss out with injuries. In their last meeting at the venue Mechelen hammered Standard Liege 3-0 and we predict that history is going to repeat itself.
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.