Mechelen vs Antwerp Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Mechelen vs Antwerp on and what time does it start? Mechelen vs Antwerp will take place on Saturday 30th September, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Mechelen vs Antwerp? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Mechelen vs Antwerp in the UK? Mechelen vs Antwerp will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
MECHELEN
After finishing the 2022/23 campaign firmly in mid-tale, following the appointment of former Burnley and Belgium midfielder Steven Defour mid-way through the campaign, Mechelen will have begun this season a little concerned about the likelihood of being drawn into a battle down at the bottom with the league being reduced from 18 to 16 teams.
The home team come into this on the back of a strong start to the 2023/24 campaign but they have since dipped in the last week or so. Their most recent outing was a 2-1 loss at home to Oud-Heverlee Leuven in midweek, which followed on from a 2-0 defeat away to Sint-Truiden last weekend. They had started with three wins and a draw in their opening six games.
ANTWERP
Royal Antwerp won their opening nine matches last season before fading and then rallying to win their first Belgian title in over 50 years on the final day of the campaign in dramatic circumstances. The reigning champions have managed to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever, too, in the early part of this campaign.
That UEFA Champions League group stage campaign started badly as they were hammered by five goals to nil by Barcelona. They have also started relatively slowly in the defence of their title, winning just three of their opening eight matches with four frustrating draws. They have drawn four of their last five matches in the league.
THE TEAM NEWS
MECHELEN
Steven Defour will be without James Van Hof for this weekend’s encounter with Boli Bolingoli remaining a doubt due to a hamstring injury sustained on the opening day of the season.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Coucke; Foulon, Cobbaut, Vanlerberghe, Walsh; Schoofs, Konate; Storm, Mrabti, Pflucke; Lauberbach
UNAVAILABLE: Van Hof (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Bolingoli (Injured)
ANTWERP
Mark van Bommel’s reigning champions will be able to name an unchanged side for this weekend’s encounter as he has no injuries or unavailable players for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Butez; Wijndal, Coulibaly, Alderweireld, Bataille; Vermeeren; Muja, Kerk, Ekkelenkamp, Balikwisha; Janssen
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Steven Defour’s Mechelen have begun the campaign in an unexpectedly impressive fashion, however those two back-to-back defeats will be cause for concern that they are regressing to the mean. They now face the reigning champions and whilst Antwerp will be frustrated with so many draws, they remain a strong outfit and will head to this match confident they can get a morale boosting win ahead of another UEFA champions league match week. Therefore, you should feel confident in backing the visitors.
TIP: ANTWERP TO WIN
