Eupen vs Standard Liege Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Eupen vs Standard Liege on and what time does it start? Eupen vs Standard Liege will take place on Sunday 17th September – 12:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Eupen vs Standard Liege? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Eupen vs Standard Liege in the UK? Eupen vs Standard Liege will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
EUPEN
With the Belgian Jupiler Pro League being reduced from 18 to 16 teams over the summer, Eupen are one of a few sides that will be concerned about being dragged into the relegation battle down at the bottom end of the table. However, they appointed former Wolfsburg manager Florian Kohfeldt over the summer and he has led them to an impressive start to this season.
They come into this on the back of a frustrating and surprising 1-0 defeat to Steven Defour’s Mechelen in their most recent outing a couple of weeks ago, prior to the international break. Prior to that loss, though, they had enjoyed back-to-back 3-1 victories against Kortrijk and Oud-Heverlee Leuven and they still sit in the top-half of the table ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
STANDARD LIEGE
Due to poor ownership, there are continued underlying issues at Standard Liege that have caused the major consistent underperformance of one of Belgium’s so-called ‘Big Three’ in the last few years. They appeared to have arrested their slide and finished in the top eight last season but then Ronny Deila surprisingly departed and was replaced by former Club Brugge coach Carl Hoefkens.
Standard have regressed, once again, and they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places, winless after six matches. They have shared three draws and suffered three defeats so far with those three draws coming against Sint-Truiden, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Cercle Brugge. They are yet to score more than one goal in a game.
THE TEAM NEWS
EUPEN
Florian Kohfeldt is having to deal with a few doubts ahead of this weekend with the most important injury concern being that of defender Kevin Mohwald.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Slonina; Paeshuye, Palsson, Davidson; Magnee, Baiye, Lambert, Van Genechten; Pantovic, Nuhu; Finnbogason
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Bialek (Injured), Mohwald (Injured), Bitumazala (Injured)
STANDARD LIEGE
Carl Hoefkens is nearly able to name from a fully fit and available squad for this weekend but he will still be sweating over the fitness of Croatian forward Stipe Perica.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Bodart; Vanheusden, Bope, Ngoy; Dewaele, Balikwisha, O’Neill, Kawabe, Canak; Dragus, Kanga
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Perica (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Florian Kohfeldt has got Eupen performing above and beyond their pre-season expectations. Whilst there remains a widely held view that the hosts will eventually become involved in the battle down at the bottom end of the table, that is not quite the case right now. They take on a Standard Liege side that have ongoing supporter protests against 777 Partners, new majority shareholders of Everton, as they continue to lay low in the table. Given their home advantage, backing Eupen looks the way to go for this one.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – EUPEN TO WIN OR DRAW
